Categorizing the Magnitude and Frequency of Exposure to Uncivil Behaviors: A New Approach for More Meaningful Interventions.

PURPOSE: To examine turnover intentions, as well as the prevalence and frequency of uncivil behaviors, from the perspective of registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and imaging professionals, using a new method to categorize exposure magnitude. DESIGN AND METHODS: Data were collected using the 22-item Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R). Additional items, informed by Price and Mueller's causal model of turnover, were included, as were select demographic variables. The final sample included 170 healthcare professionals. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample, a chi-square test was constructed to test for significant differences in exposure to uncivil behavior based on demographics, and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel statistics were used to test associations between variables and calculation of raw sum scores to implement a new method of analysis for the NAQ-R, allowing for categorization of exposure magnitude. FINDINGS: Exposure to uncivil behavior was reported more often among nursing staff than other healthcare professionals. Lack of exposure to uncivil behavior was a significant predictor of intention to stay. Perceptual differences were found between nurses prepared at the baccalaureate and associate degree levels. Lastly, no significant correlations between exposure to uncivil behavior and selected demographic variables were found, suggesting that exposure is not dependent upon age, race, unit type, or educational level. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support prior research associating negative organizational climate with higher turnover intentions. Uncivil behavior was reported across the organization, most predominantly among units staffed with nurses. Finally, use of newly defined cutoff points for the NAQ-R provide organizations with the ability to use both subjective and objective data to identify targets of uncivil behaviors to construct meaningful interventions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: There is a need to develop more meaningful interventions to support targets of uncivil behaviors. Use of the NAQ-R, coupled with the proposed cutoff scores, allows for the identification of targets, the magnitude of exposure, and the construction of meaningful primary, secondary, and tertiary intervention programs that may improve turnover and quality of care.

Caring for Refugee Youth in the School Setting.

Annually, over 80,000 refugees enter the United States as a result of political or religious persecution. Of these, approximately 35% to 40% are children and adolescents. Refugees are faced with challenges associated with living conditions, cultural and social norms, and socioeconomic status due to problems occurring in their homelands. These challenges include but are not limited to malnutrition, communicable disease, questionable immunization status, lack of formal education, sexual abuse, violence, torture, human trafficking, homelessness, poverty, and a lack of access to health care. Moreover, the psychological impact of relocation and the stress of acculturation may perpetuate many of these existing challenges, particularly for refugee youth, with limited or underdeveloped coping skills. School nurses are uniquely poised to support refugee youth in the transition process, improve overall health, and facilitate access to primary health services. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the unique refugee experience, examine the key health care needs of the population, and present school nurses with timely and relevant resources to assist in caring for refugee youth.

Examining the influence of noncognitive variables on the intention of minority baccalaureate nursing students to complete their program of study.

Retention of minority baccalaureate nursing students is imperative to resolving the absence of minority representation within the nursing profession and to aid in the elimination of health disparities among minority health care recipients. Improving minority nursing student retention requires a closer examination of the impact of noncognitive variables that contribute to attrition. This study explored the predictive value of select noncognitive variables on the intention of minority baccalaureate nursing students to complete their degree. A survey was sent to 1,519 students enrolled in generic, prelicensure baccalaureate nursing programs in the North Carolina University System. Unique data characteristics required the use of both parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses. The regression model included variables of age, race, gender, academic development, faculty interaction, peer interaction, hours worked, and faculty concern and accounted for 29% of the variation in student intention to complete their degree.

Animosity, antagonism, and avatars: teaching conflict management in second life.

Conflict exists in all health care organizations and may take many forms, including lateral or horizontal violence. The Essentials of Baccalaureate Nursing Education identified the development of conflict resolution strategies as core knowledge required of the bachelor's of science in nursing generalist. However, learning the art of conflict management takes both time and practice. With competition for clinical space increasing, class time in short supply, and traditional clinical opportunities for teaching conflict management lacking, a virtual approach to teaching conflict resolution was explored through the use of Second Life®. The project presented here explored students' perceptions of this unique approach to learning conflict management and sought to examine the effectiveness of this teaching method.