A Small Problem Can Knock Everything Down Like Dominoes: Turkish Nursing Students' Experiences of Incivility in Clinical Practice

Clinical education plays a crucial role in nursing students' learning process, where they apply theoretical knowledge and develop their professional identities. However, experiences of incivility encountered during this process can negatively impact students' psychological well-being, academic performance, and professional motivation. This study explored incivility among Turkish nursing students and examined the potential consequences. A descriptive qualitative study design was used. This descriptive qualitative study was conducted between 11.03.2025 and 30.03.2025, involving 19 nursing students from the nursing program at a state university in Turkey. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, and thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. The data analysis yielded four primary themes and five subthemes: (I) Types of Incivility, (II) Effects of Incivility, (III) Coping Strategies, and (IV) Solutions and Suggestions. The experience of uncivil behavior during clinical practice significantly affected students' academic performance and professional career development. Beyond documenting experiences of incivility, the findings demonstrate how repeated low-intensity uncivil behaviors cumulatively undermine nursing students' professional identity development, learning engagement, and willingness to provide holistic patient care.