Promoting Civility in the OR: An Ethical Imperative

Recognizing, addressing, and preventing incivility in the health care environment, including the perioperative area, requires an intentional and informed approach to foster healthy workplaces and protect patient safety. Several important foundational documents and position statements speak directly to the nurse's responsibility to protect patient, coworker, and personal safety and promote civility and respect. In the complex, fast-paced environment of the OR, the pressure to meet patient needs, performance outcomes, and patient safety standards can lead to conflict and incivility. In this article, we present a case-based scenario to illustrate a multilevel evidence-based response to an uncivil encounter that could negatively affect patient safety in the OR. After the scenario, we discuss the responses to the encounter from the organization, the nurse manager, and the individual nurse. When nurses speak up and resolve issues, they report better patient outcomes, greater satisfaction in the workplace, and heightened organizational commitment.