Faculty-to-Faculty Incivility as Perceived by Nursing Faculty

151 Pages·2017·1.28 MB·English

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Dissertations
Fall 12-2016
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Melinda Lofton Sills
University of Southern Mississippi
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Sills, Melinda Lofton, "Faculty-to-Faculty Incivility as Perceived by Nursing Faculty" (2016). Dissertations.
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FACULTY-TO-FACULTY INCIVILITY AS PERCEIVED BY NURSING FACULTY
by

Melinda Kay Lofton Sills
A Dissertation
Submitted to the Graduate School
and the Department of Systems Leadership and Health Outcomes
at The University of Southern Mississippi
in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements
for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy
Approved:
_________________________________________
Dr. Kathleen Masters, Committee Chair
Professor, Collaborative Nursing Practice
_________________________________________
Dr. Janie Butts, Committee Member
Professor, Systems Leadership and Health Outcomes
_________________________________________
Dr. Bonnie Harbaugh, Committee Member
Professor, Systems Leadership and Health Outcomes
_________________________________________
Dr. Melanie Gilmore, Committee Member
Associate Professor, Advanced Practice
_________________________________________
Dr. Richard Mohn, Committee Member
Associate Professor, Educational Studies and Research
_________________________________________
Dr. Karen S. Coats
Dean of the Graduate School
December 2016
COPYRIGHT BY
Melinda Kay Lofton Sills
2016

Published by the Graduate School
ABSTRACT
FACULTY-TO-FACULTY INCIVILITY AS PERCEIVED BY NURSING FACULTY
by Melinda Kay Lofton Sills
December 2016
The purpose of this research was to determine the perceived presence of
workplace incivility among nursing faculty in associate, baccalaureate, and
graduate nursing programs and whether there was a significant difference
between workplace incivility behaviors, occurrence of incivility, extent of incivility,
and engagement of incivility among the three groups. A convenience sample of
faculty from nursing programs accredited by Accreditation Commission for
Education in Nursing and Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education in
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Tennessee completed the Incivility in
Nursing Education-Revised (INE-R) survey. The final sample included 169
nursing faculty.
Based on the results of the study faculty in associate, baccalaureate, and
graduate nursing programs recognize faculty-to-faculty incivility with 80%
reporting incivility as a problem in their program. Statistical analysis revealed
there was not a significant difference between workplace incivility behaviors,
occurrence of incivility, extent of incivility, and engagement of incivility among the
three groups. The most highly rated faculty incivility behaviors included making
condescending or rude remarks, exerting superiority, abusing position, or rank,
making discriminating comments, making rude gestures or nonverbal behaviors,
and sending inappropriate or rude emails. The highest rated behavior occurring
ii
in the prior 12 months included using a computer, phone, or another media
device in faculty meetings, committee meetings, other work activities for
unrelated purposes.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express the deepest appreciation to my committee chair,
Dr. Kathleen Masters, who has been an invaluable mentor. Without her practical
advice, supportive guidance, persistent help, and enduring encouragement this
dissertation would not have been possible.
I would also like to thank my committee members Dr. Janie Butts and Dr.
Bonnie Harbaugh for their commitment to supporting nursing research and
sharing their expertise throughout the doctoral program. Thank you to Dr.
Melanie Gilmore and Dr. Richard Mohn for the advice and feedback, your
perspectives and guidance helped to strengthen my research.

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DEDICATION
I dedicate my dissertation work to my family. My husband, Ben, has been
a constant source of support and encouragement during the challenges of
graduate school and life. I am truly thankful for having you in my life. This work
is also dedicated to my children, Bentley, Layton, Lofton, and Baylor. I am
stronger and more fulfilled because of each of you. I pray I have been an
example by showing you with hard work and dedication you can achieve
anything. A special dedication to my parents, Douglas and Iva Pearl Lofton,
without their support and love throughout my life I would not be the person I am.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT ...........................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .......................................................................................iv
DEDICATION ....................................................................................................... v
LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................xi
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ................................................................................. xii
CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION ....................................................................... 1
Introduction .................................................................................................... 1
Problem Statement ........................................................................................ 4
Purpose ......................................................................................................... 5
Theoretical Framework .................................................................................. 5
Research Questions ...................................................................................... 8
Definition of Terms ........................................................................................ 9
Assumptions ................................................................................................ 10
Limitations ................................................................................................... 10
Scope and Delimitations .............................................................................. 11
Significance of the Study ............................................................................. 11
Summary ..................................................................................................... 13
CHAPTER II – REVIEW OF LITERATURE..................................................... 14
Review of Literature .................................................................................... 14
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Antecedents to Incivility ............................................................................... 18
Nursing Faculty Incivility .............................................................................. 20
Faculty Behaviors that Represent Nursing Faculty Incivility ........................ 21
Factors that Contribute to Nursing Faculty Incivility ..................................... 25
Negative Outcomes of Nursing Faculty Incivility .......................................... 26
Consequences of Incivility ........................................................................... 38
Incivility in Nursing Education Revised (INE-R) Survey ............................... 41
Summary ..................................................................................................... 48
CHAPTER III – METHODOLOGY ................................................................... 50
Methodology ................................................................................................ 50
Protection of Human Subjects ..................................................................... 50
Population and Sample ............................................................................... 51
Sampling ..................................................................................................... 52
Procedure .................................................................................................... 52
Participant Information ................................................................................ 53
Research Design ......................................................................................... 53
Instrumentation ............................................................................................ 55
Item Development ....................................................................................... 56
Reliability of Instrument ............................................................................... 59
Validity of Instrument ................................................................................... 64
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Data Analysis .............................................................................................. 67
Summary ..................................................................................................... 69
CHAPTER IV – DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS ........................................ 70
Data Analysis .............................................................................................. 70
Description of Sample ................................................................................. 70
Demographic Data ...................................................................................... 71
Research Questions .................................................................................... 75
What behaviors do nursing faculty perceive as workplace incivility? ....... 75
What was the occurrence of incivility behaviors in a prior 12 month period?
................................................................................................................. 80
What extent do faculty perceive incivility as a problem in their nursing
program? ................................................................................................. 84
Do faculty perceive engagement in incivility occurring by students or
faculty? .................................................................................................... 85
How do faculty rate the level of civility within a nursing program? ........... 85
What are the differences in workplace incivility behaviors, occurrence of
incivility, extent of incivility, and engagement of incivility as perceived by
nursing faculty in associate, baccalaureate, and graduate nursing
programs? ................................................................................................ 86
Summary ..................................................................................................... 89
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