Examining the Influence of Workplace Incivility on Nurses’ Patient Safety Competence

Purpose This study assessed clinical nurses’ workplace incivility experiences and determined the effects of workplace incivility experiences on nurses’ patient safety competence. Design This quantitative study surveyed 261 clinical nurses in two acute healthcare facilities in Saudi Arabia from June to August 2019. Methods A self‐administered survey, including the Nurse Incivility Scale and the Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey, was employed to assess the variables workplace incivility and patient safety competence. The association between incivility and patient safety competence was analysed using multivariate multiple regression. Results The highest mean score was recorded for patient or visitor incivility, whereas the lowest score was recorded for supervisor incivility. Regarding patient safety competence, the dimension “communicating effectively” received the highest mean score, whereas “working in teams with other health professionals” was rated lowest. General and nurse incivilities had multivariate effects on the six dimensions of patient safety competence. Conclusions Nurses’ experiences of uncivil acts from nurses and from general incivility negatively impact nurses’ patient safety competence. Clinical Relevance This investigation could guide the establishment of policies centered on boosting the patient safety competence of nurses by addressing uncivil acts in healthcare settings.