ABSTRACT
Academic incivility is disruptive behavior that substantially or repeatedly interferes with teaching and learning. Incivility on college campuses jeopardizes the welfare of all members of the academy. Academic nurse leaders play a critical role in preventing and addressing academic incivility because these behaviors can negatively affect learning and harm faculty-student relationships. Although studies on student and faculty incivility have been conducted in nursing education, there are no known studies regarding the perceptions of academic nurse leaders about this problem. This is the first known study to investigate the perceptions of 126 academic nurse leaders (deans, directors, and chairpersons) from 128 associate degree in nursing and bachelor of science nursing programs in a large western state. Academic nurse leaders responded to five open-ended questions regarding their perceptions of stressors that affect nursing faculty and students, the uncivil behaviors exhibited by both groups, and the role of leadership in preventing and addressing incivility in nursing education.
AUTHORS
Received: May 22, 2009
Accepted: September 14, 2009
Posted: March 1, 2010
The authors are Professors, Department of Nursing, Boise State University, Boise, Idaho.
The authors thank the academic nurse leaders who participated in this study. Their insights, courage, and commitment to transforming nursing education is greatly appreciated.
The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.
Address correspondence to Cynthia M. Clark, PhD, RN, ANEF, Department of Nursing, Boise State University, 1910 University Drive, Boise, ID 83725-1840; e-mail: cclark@boisestate.edu.
doi:10.3928/01484834-20100224-01
