Aim and Objectives
This article examined the association between workplace incivility experiences of nurses and patient safety (PS) culture in hospitals.
Background
Workplace incivility, which is characterised by low‐intensity behaviours with unclear intention to harm and disruption of workplace ambiance of mutual respect, may threaten the work environment, resulting in an unhealthy and unsafe workplace.
Design
Cross‐sectional study.
Method
This study surveyed 261 nurses in Saudi Arabia from June 2019 to August 2019 using the ‘Hospital Survey of Patients’ Safety Culture’ and the ‘Nurse Incivility Scale’. A multiple linear regression was performed with unit‐ and hospital‐level PS culture as the dependent variables.
Results
‘Organizational learning–continuous improvement’ and ‘Teamwork within units’ were recognised as PS culture strengths. The nurses reported workplace incivility from patient/visitor as the most frequently experienced (mean = 2.27, standard deviation = 0.88). Working in Hospital B (ß = 0.24, p < .001, 95%CI = 0.15, 0.33) and having a baccalaureate degree in nursing (ß = 0.13, p = .014, 95%CI = 0.03, 0.23) were associated with better perceptions of unit‐level PS, whereas working in medical‐surgical wards (ß = −0.16, p = .002, 95%CI = −0.26, −0.06) and in intensive care units (ß = −0.19, p = .002, 95%CI = −0.32, −0.07) and experiencing patient/visitor incivility (ß = −0.09, p = .004, 95%CI = −0.15, −0.03) were associated with poor unit‐level PS culture perceptions. Experiences of general incivility (ß = −0.24, p < .001, 95%CI = −0.35, −0.13) and supervisor incivility (ß = −0.26, p = .011, 95%CI = −0.46, −0.06) were associated with poor hospital‐level PS culture perceptions.
Conclusions
Workplace incivility from patients/visitors had a negative association with unit‐level PS culture perceptions, whereas experiences on general and supervisor incivilities had an adverse relationship with hospital‐level PS culture perceptions.
Relevance to Clinical Practice
The study emphasises the call to eradicate any form of incivility in healthcare settings to guarantee a PS culture. Hospital and nursing managers should prioritise the creation and implementation of policies aimed at eliminating uncivil behaviours in clinical settings to ensure that unit‐ and hospital‐level PS culture are above standards.