An Integrative Review Examining Student-to-Student Incivility and Effective Strategies to Address Incivility in Nursing Education

BACKGROUND: Incivility is a low-intensity, discourteous behavior intended to disrupt or harm positive interaction. If allowed, student-to-student incivility can undermine the educational environment. PURPOSE: The purpose of the integrative review was to examine factors influencing incivility among nursing students and teaching strategies used to reduce incivility in nursing education. METHODS: Qualitative and quantitative studies were reviewed. The Johns Hopkins Research Evidence Appraisal tool was used to narrow down the selection of articles. Content analysis was used to evaluate the qualitative research. RESULTS: Five major points of interest were identified: workload and high expectations contributed to incivility, degrees of incivility, effects of incivility, coping mechanisms among individuals, and effective teaching strategies addressing incivility. CONCLUSION: Continued research on innovative teaching strategies that raise awareness of civility while reducing incivility is warranted.