Workplace Incivility across Experience Levels: A Comparative Study of Nursing Staff

Abstract

Workplace incivility remains a critical challenge in the nursing profession, affecting employee well-being, professional relationships, and the quality of patient care. This study aims to examine the presence and various sources of incivility among nursing staff through a comparative analysis of two groups: early-career nurses (1–5 years of experience) and mid-career nurses (6–10 years). Findings indicate that early-career nurses are more likely to experience incivility from supervisors as well as from patients and their families, whereas mid-career nurses report greater exposure to peer-related incivility. No notable differences were observed in general incivility, physician incivility, or overall workplace incivility across groups. These results highlight that the sources of incivility vary depending on the stage of a nurse’s career. The study underscores the importance of organizational strategies tailored to different experience levels, including mentorship and leadership support for novice nurses and conflict-management training for more experienced staff, to promote respectful work environments and enhance patient care outcomes.