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Nursing series explores workplace incivility, bullying

Nebraska is experiencing a critical nursing shortage. Although the reasons behind this shortage are complex, bullying and incivility in the workplace may be a contributing factor.

Nearly one out of six nurses reported experiencing incivility and bullying in the workplace in the previous six months. Research indicates those affected are two times more likely to leave their place of employment.

Rates of bullying and incivility vary by employment setting, and nurses in university or academic workplaces have the greatest prevalence at 25.1%. That’s followed by nurses working in VA facilities at 21.5%, then by nurses working in emergency departments at 20.9%.

The UNMC College of Nursing, in partnership with the UNMC College of Public Health, Nebraska Center for Nursing, Nebraska Board of Nursing, Nebraska Hospital Association and HRSA, developed the Nebraska Collaborative Investment in Nurses.

Its purpose is to deliver wellness interventions and resources to address and reduce burnout and behavioral health conditions in nursing students, RNs and APRNs, with a focus on rural and medically underserved areas.

The Nebraska Collaborative will offer the webinar series “Incivility & Bullying in the Workplace” weekly on Wednesdays from April 5 through May 3. The sessions will run from noon to 1 p.m. CT/11 a.m. to noon MT.

This accredited continuing education activity is designed for nurses and other interested health care professionals.

The schedule is:

  • April 5: “Tips for Improving Communication and Interaction with Patients and Co-Workers.” Speaker: Kay Glidden, a Nebraska native with a background as a mental health professional who works as a trainer and educator in compassion fatigue and trauma informed care.
  • April 12: “Psychiatric Nurses Recruitment and Retention Issues: A Focus Group Project.” Speaker: Shinobu Watanabe-Galloway, PhD, professor in the UNMC College of Public Health and research director of the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.
  • April 19: “Health Professional Well-Being: The Need for Institutional-level Commitment.” Speaker: Jonathon Ripp, MD, professor of medicine, medical education and geriatrics and palliative medicine and chief wellness officer at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
  • April 26: “Incivility and Bullying Reported by Nebraska Nurses.” Speakers: Juan-Paulo Ramírez, PhD, with the Nebraska Center for Nursing, and Holly Chandler, EdD, associate professor at Bryan College of Health Sciences.
  • May 3: “Nebraska Collaborative Investment in Nurse Wellness: HRSA Grant Overview, Current Findings & Future Directions.” Speaker: Alyson Hanish, PhD, assistant professor at the UNMC College of Nursing.

For more information and to register, go to this link.