Michelle Scranton
Supervisor: Dr. Peter Arthur
City: Kelowna
Occupation: Registered Nurse
Year: 2026
Subject:
- Curriculum
- Leadership
- Mindfulness and Wellbeing
Description
Incivility and bullying are rampant and under-addressed issues within nursing practice. Studies report that while as many as 95% of new graduate nurses experience incivility in practice, less than 25% of nursing graduates have had formal training on incivility and bullying prior to entering the workforce. This gap leaves students uneducated on the topic and unprepared to face these issues effectively in practice. In order to address this knowledge and practice gap, a three-hour workshop with an accompanying facilitators guide and resources were developed. Topics within the workshop include definitions of incivility and bullying, examples in practice, negative outcomes, causes, strategies to combat it (utilizing cognitive rehearsal and developing assertive communication), how to report bullying, and how to help create a civil workplace environment. The workshop places a heavy focus on active learning techniques, and includes several small group discussions as well as role play activities. While this workshop was initially designed to be integrated into an existing second year nursing course, its reach may be more widespread, with new graduate programs encouraged to take on and adapt the content. This workshop is intended to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to confidently and effectively address incivility in practice, contributing to a more civil, safe, and positive workplace environment for nurses.
Student Biography
I am a nurse educator within the UBC Okanagan School of Nursing who is passionate about creating a safe learning environment for my students. I myself have experienced some of the negative effects of incivility and bullying within nursing practice and wanted to equip my students with the knowledge and tools they may need to address these issues as they arise in practice.