Challenge Tips

Day 1 — Naming the Issue

Change begins when we name what’s happening. For too long, bullying and incivility in nursing have been minimized as personality conflicts, rites of passage, or “just the way things are.” In reality, these behaviors exist on a continuum of workplace violence and deserve to be addressed. 

Your Action for Today
Reflect quietly on your experiences at work. Consider these 5 questions: 

• Have you witnessed or experienced incivility or bullying?
• How were those behaviors described or dismissed?
• What behaviors may be construed negatively that you may exhibit when angry or frustrated?
• What happens when these behaviors go unnamed?
• What is one observation you might feel comfortable journaling or sharing with a trusted colleague? 

You don’t need to share or solve anything today. Simply noticing matters.  When we allow ourselves to name what we’ve seen or felt, without judgment, we begin to loosen the hold of silence and normalization. Awareness is the first step toward creating safer environments for everyone. 

Join us on day 2: A sneak peek - Take a closer look at how small behaviors can escalate if left unaddressed.