NURS6053C_WK11_Assigment#5

Discussion Week 7

My Clark work environment assessment score was 53 meaning that my workplace environment is unhealthy. My workplace environment has weak civility because it has low employee satisfaction, poor communication, and poor conflict resolution (Clark, 2019). The health care facility has weaker civility than what I expected, since I have not experienced any personal confronts but I had been present on some inappropriate encounters. On my personal opinion is an issue of appropriate professional communication.

A civil work environment includes positive manners that entitles treating others with respect, politeness, and kindness no matter their title or their professional role. However, at times there are factors that divert us from acting in such a method such as tension, emotions, and inappropriate communication. Effective communication can manifest a civil work environment and creates a safer practice environment for both patients and staff (Clark, 2019).

One day I was present while two nurses at my workplace were arguing in a patient area about certain medication dosage of the patient. They were upsetting each other and were uttering some words. Incivility is not just defined by rudeness it also includes failing to intervene on another’s behalf, refusing to assist a colleague, and neglecting to acknowledge others (Clark, 2017). The patient became uncomfortable and looked disturbed. However, the two nurses continued arguing despite of the patient looking disturbed. This was very unprofessional behavior in our workplace environment. The lead nurse of that specific unit called the two nurses and solved the problem by giving a verbal warning and providing education about ethics and facility policies. It is the duty of nursing leadership to not only ensure their colleagues are maintaining civility but they must also model it within their own actions and behaviors (Clark, 2019). The nurse leader further went to the patient’s room and reassured her that everything was solved, and the incident will not be repeated.

Nursing is a stressful profession due to the different cases we see, the common staff shortages, and the high hopes of patient and patient’s families. Instead of creating conflict we should be supporting each other by communicating efficiently and respecting our healthcare worker colleagues. Good communication is a key component of patient satisfaction and patient safety. In agreement with Clark (2019), When practitioners and faculty effectively engage themselves in meaningful dialogue and can cooperate and brainstorm together to resolve conflict, they are enhancing the civility of the work environment, promoting safer learning, and creating a safer practice environment for both the patients and staff.

References

Clark, C. (2017). An Evidence-Based Approach to Integrate Civility, Professionalism, and Ethical Practice Into Nursing Curricula. Nurse Educator, 42(3), pp. 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000331

Clark, C. M. (2019). Combining Cognitive Rehearsal, Simulation, and Evidence-Based Scripting to Address Incivility. Nurse Educator,44(2), 64–68. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0000000000000563.

Clark, C. (2019). Fostering a Culture of Civility and Respect in Nursing. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), pp. 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155.8256.19.30082.1

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Response # 1

Hi Quyen,

 I enjoyed reading your post. On more than one occasion during my nursing career, I have experienced similar workplace incivilities.

    A healthy work atmosphere should have disagreements, as long as is a healthy disagreement. With conflict is how raising situations are resolved and solutions are implemented. The conflict should be a healthy conflict where solutions are backed by evidence and the opposing parties are able to come to a resolution in a respectful and dignified manner (Laureate Education, 2009).  

       In my opinion, everything would have been different if there was proper communication. The other nurse should have agreed to write up a hand-off report as a courtesy. Incivility is not just defined by rudeness it also includes failing to intervene on another’s behalf, refusing to assist a colleague, and neglecting to acknowledge others (Clark, 2017). If she were having a rough day, she could have politely communicated with you and let you know she could not. 

        By communicating effectively, the whole picture of the situation could have changed to something positive and more pleasant for both of you. Effective communication can manifest a civil work environment and creates a safer practice environment for both patients and staff (Clark, 2019). What was at the beginning a conflict might have become a learning experience for all. 

References

Clark, C. (2017). An Evidence-Based Approach to Integrate Civility, Professionalism, and Ethical Practice Into Nursing Curricula. Nurse Educator, 42(3), pp. 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNE.0000000000000331

Clark, C. (2019). Fostering a Culture of Civility and Respect in Nursing. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 10(1), pp. 44-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2155.8256.19.30082.1

Laureate Education [Producer]. (2009). Working with Groups and Teams [Video File]. Baltimore Maryland.

______________________________________________________________________________Response # 2

Hello Maame,

  I enjoyed reading your post. Unfortunately, as nurses, we must deal with many stressors, and like it was not enough, now we also have COVID19 and the impact that it had on our lives. That being said, the ANA’s Code of Ethics for Nurses (2015) specifically provisions that the nurse must act in a manner that is consistent with maintaining the safety, respect, and civility of coworkers, patients, and themselves. Within these requirements, nurses are obliged to treat others with respect. Nurses must be held responsible for their actions to ensure civility. Weak teamwork and ineffective communication can cause a harmful degradation of the quality of care delivered by an institution. If leadership does not demonstrate respect to one another, the staff will show the same. However, if leadership displays respect and fairness for the staff, the rest will follow. These ensure that employees remain engaged and understand their assignments concerning the organization's success, besides enabling them to understand the organization's decision-making process and the implications of these decisions to them (Muhamedi & Ariffin, 2017).

      Communication is essential as it ensures the development of ethical skills such as trust, alignment of efforts in goals pursuits and inspiring change (Landry, 2019).

References

American Nurses Association. (2015). Code of Ethics for Nurses With Interpretive Statements. Washington, D.C.

Landry, L. (2019, November 14). 8 Essential Leadership Communication Skills | HBS Online. Retrieved February 20, 2021, from Harvard Business School website: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/leadership-communication

Muhamedi, M., & Ariffin, M. Y. M. (2017). Importance of communication channels between managers and employees in management communication. The Social Sciences, 12(9), 1541-1552.