The Relationship Between Perceived Vertical Violence and Academic Achievement Among Undergraduate Nursing Students

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between perceived vertical violence (incivility and bullying) and academic achievement among undergraduate nursing students. Although vertical violence towards nursing students is a seemingly pervasive issue in nursing curriculums across the nation, there is a paucity of literature on this topic. The adage that nurses eat their young first originated from Meissner in 1986, and thirty-three years later the same statement still applies. The phenomenon of nursing students experiencing acts of incivility and bullying such as gossipping, rude comments, yelling, and harassment is referred to as vertical violence. Nurse educators in the didactic, simulation, and clinical settings and staff nurses in clinical fields are responsible for this perceived incivility and bullying (Cooper et al, 2011). Instead of mentoring and furthering the education of young individuals with a desire to save lives and make a difference, nurse educators and staff nurses seem to often judge, criticize, embarrass, and humiliate future nurses. Unfortunately, an estimated 60% of new Registered Nurses quit their first job in nursing within 6 months because of bullying, demonstrating that nursing students and new nurses experience vertical violence and do not feel empowered to confront perpetrators (Colduvell, 2017).

Methods: Using a cross-sectional descriptive study design, research objectives will be achieved using a sample of 100 undergraduate students (18-25 years old) enrolled in a four-year baccalaureate program. Eligible subjects will complete the Incivility in Nursing Education Survey (INE-R) and Bullying Behaviors in Nursing Education tool (BBNE), and report academic achievement measured by Grade Point Average (GPA) via REDCap. The Incivility in Nursing Education- Revised Survey (INE-R) is a 48-item, Likert-like psychometrically sound instrument measuring student and educator perceptions of incivility on an evidenced based continuum (Clark et al, 2015). The Bullying Behaviors in Nursing Education (BBNE) tool is an 18 item, 4-factor valid and reliable tool measuring perceived bullying behaviors of nursing students in the education environment. Participants will be directed to an encrypted link using REDCap to determine study eligibility. Once eligibility is determined, electronic consent will be signed. Consented participants will receive an individualized link to a REDCap survey consisting of sociodemographic information, the Incivility in Nursing Education Questionnaire and Bullying Behaviors in Nursing Education tool (INE-R and BBNE), and academic achievement measured by GPA.

Results: Data collection will begin in September 2019.

Conclusion: This study will inform nursing faculty of the perceived prevalence of vertical violence between faculty and undergraduate nursing students and its impact on academic performance. Nursing faculty and administrators awareness and knowledge surrounding vertical violence may improve the overall experience of students enrolled in undergraduate nursing programs in the didactic and clinical setting. Future faculty development may include education on incivility and bullying prevention and minimization. Awareness promotion, development of resources, and empowerment to report episodes of vertical violence may be beneficial to nursing students as well.