Abstract
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.