Authors

  1. Alexander, Natalie K. MSN, RN

Article Content

The most formative way to instill desired professional behavior in the workplace postgraduation is 2-fold. The nurse educator should be a role model of civility (inside and outside of the classroom) and provide students with opportunities to practice demonstrating civil interactions. Civility statements in the syllabi and in the faculty handbook are not enough to render successful results. Nurse educators have studied incivility at length, and yet it remains prevalent in our profession. This teaching tip describes some tools that are readily available for use by faculty. Two American Nurses Association posters entitled "Civility Best Practices for Nurses" and "Bullying Prevention Strategies for Nurses" were affixed in the nursing student lounge; group role-playing opportunities were provided in a nursing course teaching students how to use the acronym CUS (Concerned, Uncomfortable, Safety); students were given a laminated card from the American Nurses Association (Tips for Nurses: Dealing With Incivility and Bullying); constructive criticism language based on QSEN competencies was provided to the faculty for use with all student performance evaluations; and finally, a behavioral contract template was provided to be signed by students and faculty for class and staff meetings. We are all too familiar with the incredible cost of allowing incivility to continue. Go ahead and implement that change!