Frequency and outcomes of workplace incivility in healthcare: A scoping review of the literature: A Scoping Review of the Literature

AIMS: To evaluate the frequency and outcomes of workplace incivility in healthcare for nursing management.

BACKGROUND: Incivility in the workplace is a significant problem that is important to nurse managers, as it goes directly against the fundamental values and ethics of providing high-quality care to patients. The Joint Commission (2021) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center have called on healthcare organizations to identify and intervene in the problem of workplace incivility.

EVALUATION: Studies included in this scoping review were those that measured and analyzed the frequency and outcomes of workplace incivility in healthcare. Four databases were searched, and 28 articles were reviewed. Evaluation was based on general quality, including study characteristics, instruments, and statistical analyses.

KEY ISSUES: Studies used a quasi-experimental design, and most focused on the Registered Nurse population. The Workplace Incivility Scale was the most commonly used instrument to measure workplace incivility frequency. The most frequently studied work-related outcomes were burnout, satisfaction, and turnover.

CONCLUSIONS: Although the frequency of workplace incivility in healthcare is not clear, its consequences are substantial. Multiple studies have revealed significant relationships between workplace incivility and work-related outcomes that are important to nurse managers. Research is needed on non-nursing healthcare professionals, and validation studies are needed on instruments used to measure workplace incivility frequency.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The findings of this review can help nurse managers better understand the phenomenon, frequency, and impact of workplace incivility in the healthcare setting and move toward addressing the problem of workplace incivility among nurses and other healthcare professionals.