Can a comprehensive code of conduct discourage incivility in nursing students?

BACKGROUND: This article discusses problems associated with incivility in nursing education and a proposed implementation strategy designed to decrease uncivil acts of student behavior.

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION: Like most colleges across the nation, this nursing program was experiencing an increase in acts of student incivility.

OPERATIONAL DEFINITIONS: Incivility, also called bullying, may include behaviors such as name calling, side conversations, and condescending language.

METHOD: The sample consisted of 94 third-semester nursing students and 6 faculty members. The Incivility in Nursing Education survey was used as a tool to measure student and faculty perceptions.

DATA ANALYSIS: Data from pre- and postimplementation surveys demonstrated scientific evidence of both faculty and student perception and a significant decrease in acts of uncivil behavior in the nursing program.

LIMITATIONS: Because the study was limited to one nursing program and included only third-semester nursing students, the results of the study may not be transferable to all nursing programs.

CONCLUSIONS: The study revealed a reduction in perceived uncivil acts of behavior in the nursing program by faculty and students.