Other Titles
Creating a Respectful Future: Combating Bullying and Incivility in Nursing Education Amid Global Faculty Shortages [Title Slide]
Abstract
Introduction: With the current nursing faculty shortage, incivility and bullying must be addressed to ensure the continuity of nursing faculty to educate the next generation of nurses. The academic setting should be a safe space for students and faculty at all levels to grow and even make mistakes.
Purpose: This case study explores the issue of incivility in nursing education using personal accounts from novice and seasoned nursing faculty and offers strategies for novice nurses, mentors, and leaders to manage incivility and create a healthy work environment.
Methods: An experienced faculty educator from a different institution independently reviewed a de-identified transcript of email exchanges between a new faculty member and two senior faculty, all employed at a large university. A case study format was used with email transcripts that captured communication from experienced faculty (mentor) during a one-month time period as well as comments from the new faculty (mentee). The transcript was read using a three-step process. First, the transcript was read in its entirety. Secondly, the emails were read from the mentor's perspective, with only the experienced faculty’s portions of the emails. Finally, the emails were read in the lens of the mentee only.
Results: From the mentor’s perspective, they may not have received formal leadership or supervisory training, but rather became the mentor or lead because they were the faculty with the longest tenure at an institution. The mentors may be stretched too thin with a workload that does not match reality. From the mentee’s perspective, the mentors appeared too busy and ended emails with “let me know if you have any questions” rather than offering a meeting virtually or in person. Individuals in any new position have many questions from logistics to unit/department culture. Student perspectives on a class issue were considered by the mentor without hearing the mentee’s side of the story, which is a novice error.
Conclusion: With the current nursing faculty shortage, incivility needs to be addressed through effective strategies, such as mentorship, diverse communication methods, and role modeling of both novice and experienced faculty. Having education and training to help prepare the new as well as existing faculty members will help decrease this negative culture and create a sense of well-being and belonging that nurses need in their profession.
Notes
References:
Alberts HL. Addressing bullying and incivility in clinical nursing education. Teach Learn Nurs. 2022;17(4):433–437. doi:10.1016/j.teln.2022.05.004
Atashzadeh Shoorideh F, Moosavi S, Balouchi A. Incivility toward nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Med Ethics Hist Med. 2021. 14(15);1-25. doi:10.18502/jmehm.v14i15.7670
Clark CM. The imperative of civility in uncertain times, Nurs Educ. 2020;45(4),173. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000000874
Ephraim N. Mentoring in nursing education: An essential element in the retention of new nurse faculty. J Prof Nurs. 2021;37(2):306-319. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2020.12.001
Layne DM, Anderson E, Henderson S. Examining the presence and sources of incivility within nursing. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(7):1505–1511. doi:10.1111/jonm.12836
Windey M, Craft J, Schivinski EL, Wright A. The grim reality of nursing incivility. J Nurses Prof Dev. 2020;36(1);41–43. doi:10.1097/NND.0000000000000599
Sigma Membership
Beta Xi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Case Study/Series
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
lncivility, Bullying, Faculty Development, Mentoring and Coaching, Healthy Work Environments
Recommended Citation
Graber, Jennifer S.; Saylor, Jennifer L.; and Ivory, Rebecca, "Combating Bullying and Incivility in Nursing Education Amid Global Faculty Shortages" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 188.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/188
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Combating Bullying and Incivility in Nursing Education Amid Global Faculty Shortages
Seattle, Washington, USA
Introduction: With the current nursing faculty shortage, incivility and bullying must be addressed to ensure the continuity of nursing faculty to educate the next generation of nurses. The academic setting should be a safe space for students and faculty at all levels to grow and even make mistakes.
Purpose: This case study explores the issue of incivility in nursing education using personal accounts from novice and seasoned nursing faculty and offers strategies for novice nurses, mentors, and leaders to manage incivility and create a healthy work environment.
Methods: An experienced faculty educator from a different institution independently reviewed a de-identified transcript of email exchanges between a new faculty member and two senior faculty, all employed at a large university. A case study format was used with email transcripts that captured communication from experienced faculty (mentor) during a one-month time period as well as comments from the new faculty (mentee). The transcript was read using a three-step process. First, the transcript was read in its entirety. Secondly, the emails were read from the mentor's perspective, with only the experienced faculty’s portions of the emails. Finally, the emails were read in the lens of the mentee only.
Results: From the mentor’s perspective, they may not have received formal leadership or supervisory training, but rather became the mentor or lead because they were the faculty with the longest tenure at an institution. The mentors may be stretched too thin with a workload that does not match reality. From the mentee’s perspective, the mentors appeared too busy and ended emails with “let me know if you have any questions” rather than offering a meeting virtually or in person. Individuals in any new position have many questions from logistics to unit/department culture. Student perspectives on a class issue were considered by the mentor without hearing the mentee’s side of the story, which is a novice error.
Conclusion: With the current nursing faculty shortage, incivility needs to be addressed through effective strategies, such as mentorship, diverse communication methods, and role modeling of both novice and experienced faculty. Having education and training to help prepare the new as well as existing faculty members will help decrease this negative culture and create a sense of well-being and belonging that nurses need in their profession.
Description
The culture of incivility and bullying for novice nursing faculty needs to be addressed to help curb the faculty shortage nationwide. Structured mentoring and training programs can assist novice faculty, as well as experienced faculty, to promote well-being and longevity in the academic environment.