Perceptions of Incivility in Nursing Education: A Comparative Analysis of Student and Faculty Perspectives

BACKGROUND: Incivility in nursing education affects learning, professionalism, and patient safety and may be perceived differently by faculty and students. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify perceptions of civility and incivility of nursing students and faculty. METHODS: An online mixed-methods survey was administered to students and faculty in 3 prelicensure nursing programs within one university. RESULTS: The learning environment was rated as mostly civil by both students and faculty, with high-level uncivil behaviors being rare. Faculty rated low-level behaviors as more uncivil and more frequent than students (P < .05). Both groups perceived students engaging in uncivil behaviors more frequently than faculty (P < .05) and identified role modeling, establishing clear expectations, and education about civility as important strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Results highlight the need for the creation of shared definitions, clear expectations, and strategies to promote civil, respectful, and professional learning environments in nursing education.