Incivility in nursing settings: A critical yet challenging issue for novice nurses

Nursing is a profession based on trust, collaboration, and appreciation of skills. When relationships are under pressure, a type of incivility arises that can be considered somewhat equivalent to horizontal violence, bullying, and rudeness [1]. Incivility does not necessarily accompany profanity and may include any insolent behaviors including verbal insults (like shouting, humiliation, and hostile tone), physical violence (such as bodily threats and assault), sexual harassment (including inappropriate jokes and contact), and psychological abuse (like bullying, passive-aggressive behaviors, and glaring), all of which are observed in healthcare settings [2-4]. The prevalence of incivility is higher in developing countries, particularly in Asian regions such as Taiwan and Iran. It has been reported that 74% of Iranian nurses have experienced verbal and 28% physical violence [2, 5].