Online prelicensure nursing students' experiences of academic incivility during COVID-19: A qualitative inquiry

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to describe online prelicensure nursing students' experiences of incivility during COVID-19.

Design: Qualitative descriptive. Five optional open-ended questions were presented to nursing students to share their experiences with incivility during the pandemic.

Methods: Data were collected from September to October 2020 as a part of a larger multimethod study on stress, resilience and incivility with nursing students and faculty (n = 710) from a large public undergraduate nursing programme in the southwestern United States. Out of the initial 675 students who completed the survey, 260 individuals responded to three or more of the open-ended questions which were reviewed and coded using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results: Thirteen themes were organized into four analytical categories: (1) experiencing incivility, (2) causes and consequences of incivility, (3) the pandemic and academic incivility and (4) promoting civility in the academic setting.

Conclusions: Prelicensure nursing students perceived unrealistic expectations, a lack of awareness and miscommunication hindered academic performance, as well as, created feelings of stress, discouragement and inadequacy.

Implications for the profession and/or patient care: Fostering academic civility during virtual educational experiences may require training in proper coping strategies when challenged with incivility.

Impact: As the body of research emerges concerning the effects of COVID-19 and undergraduate nursing education, understanding prelicensure students' experiences of academic incivility could prove to be beneficial to designing strategies co-created with students to promote positive educational outcomes. Understanding students' viewpoints of uncivil experiences revealed prioritizing civility awareness is essential in creating healthy academic environments, improving clinical performance and providing safe patient care.

Reporting method: The COREQ (COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research) checklist was used.

Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution.

Keywords: COVID-19; cyberincivility; incivility; nursing education; online learning; prelicensure nursing students; professionalism; qualitative; reflexive thematic analysis; safety.