A supportive work environment can make all the difference for nurses facing the demands of patient care. But when incivility enters the healthcare setting, it undermines teamwork, staff morale, and ultimately patient safety. In 2023, the Acuity Adaptable Inpatient Unit at Eskenazi Health in Indianapolis reported a 27% nurse turnover rate, with incivility identified as a significant contributing factor.
To address these challenges, 2026 DNP program graduate Tatiana Laitano Rodriguez implemented two evidence-based strategies at Eskenazi Health designed to promote respectful communication and strengthen workplace culture: (1) structured civility education workshops focused on respectful communication and conflict resolution, and (2) enhancements to an existing disruptive behavior incident reporting tool to improve accountability.
Methods
Outcomes were measured using the Clark Workplace Civility Index (Clark et al., 2018), a validated Likert-scale survey administered via Qualtrics to registered nurses, physicians, and patient care technicians on the unit. Post-workshop survey results showed high staff ratings for respectful language, professional boundaries, and acknowledgment of team contributions.
Conclusion
Laitano Rodriguez’s findings confirmed that targeted educational interventions, combined with organizational accountability, can meaningfully improve civility in healthcare teams. The intervention cost approximately $13,400 and demonstrated a strong return on investment by reducing turnover-related expenses by more than $320,000. Sustaining this progress requires ongoing leadership engagement and the integration of civility training into onboarding and professional development programs.
We spoke with Laitano Rodriguez to learn more about why she chose the DNP program and what inspired her project.
What inspired you to pursue a DNP?
My path to the DNP began long before I arrived in the United States. I earned my Doctor of Medicine and Surgery degree in Honduras, where I served as both a Maternity Clinic Director and a Township Health Director, leading interdisciplinary teams of 55-65 clinicians, students, and administrative staff. That experience instilled in me a deep appreciation for systems-level thinking and for the powerful role leadership plays in shaping patient outcomes and staff well-being.
After relocating to Indiana and earning my MBA from the IU Kelley School of Business and my BSN from Anderson University, I realized that the combination of clinical expertise, business acumen, and research skills I had built pointed to one clear next step: the Doctor of Nursing Practice. I wanted to lead change not only at the bedside but also at the organizational and policy levels. The Executive Leadership track at IU School of Nursing offered exactly that, a rigorous, research-grounded program that would prepare me to influence nursing practice, healthcare culture, and health equity at scale. Ultimately, I pursued the DNP because I believe that nurses who lead with both heart and evidence can transform the profession and the communities we serve.
How did you become interested in this topic?
My interest in workplace civility grew directly from what I observed at the bedside and heard from colleagues across healthcare settings. Nurses are leaving the profession at alarming rates, and time and again the conversation returns to the same root causes: feeling disrespected, dismissed, or excluded by peers and leaders. I saw firsthand how incivility, even subtle, everyday behaviors such as rude language and dismissive attitudes, damages the trust, collaboration, and psychological safety essential to staff retention and quality patient care.
When I learned that the medical-surgical unit at Eskenazi Health had a 27% turnover rate, with incivility cited as a key driver, I knew this was a problem I could address with evidence-based interventions. My mentor, Dr. Jennifer Embree, introduced me to the broader research on healthy work environments and professional identity in nursing, deepening my commitment to this work. Civility is not just about being polite; it is a patient safety issue, a retention issue, and a moral imperative. I became passionate about finding practical, sustainable ways to build cultures where every nurse feels valued, respected, and able to do their best work.
Who were your faculty or site mentors and what advice did they offer that you'll most remember?
Three extraordinary faculty members shaped my DNP journey in profoundly different ways, and each has become not just a mentor but a lifelong colleague and friend:
• Debra Sipes-Fears, DNP, RN, was my project mentor throughout my entire DNP journey, and her unwavering support made all the difference. She was always present, guiding me through the complexities of project implementation, offering steady encouragement during moments of doubt, and genuinely caring about my well-being as much as my academic success. What I will carry with me most is the lesson she modeled every day: true mentorship means showing up for the whole person, not just the project. Her patience, compassion, and dedication remind me of the kind of nurse leader and mentor I aspire to be.
• Sharron Crowder, PhD, RN, was my policy mentor, and she believed in me before I fully believed in myself. She opened doors I didn’t even know existed, enrolling me in every advocacy and policy opportunity she thought would help me grow. Under her guidance, I attended the Policy Academy and, for the first time, stood in the statehouse and watched a bill become law. That experience was transformative. Dr. Crowder’s greatest lesson was this: Advocacy is not optional for nurse leaders; it is part of who we are.
• Jennifer Embree, DNP, RN, served as my research and leadership mentor and has shown me what it means to lead with both intellectual rigor and deep humanity. She introduced me to workplace civility and healthy work environments, invited me to join her research team, co-authored publications with me, and included me in every meaningful engagement she could. Through Dr. Embree, I have been published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at national and international conferences, and connected with a network of nursing scholars and leaders across the country. Her mentorship has expanded my identity as a nurse researcher and solidified my commitment to advancing the profession. She has shown me that research is not just an academic exercise — it is how we create lasting change for nurses and the patients they serve. What the IU School of Nursing DNP program brought to my life is truly extraordinary — not only education and experience, but also deep friendships, a powerful professional network, and mentors who will remain part of my journey for the rest of my career. I am forever grateful.
What are your hopes for your future impact on the nursing profession?
My future plans are built around three interconnected goals: continued growth as a nurse leader, ongoing engagement in research, and giving back to the next generation of nurses through education.
First, I intend to continue building my leadership presence in clinical and organizational settings. I want to take on roles that allow me to shape workplace culture, advance health equity, and advocate for nurses at every level. My background in business, medicine, and nursing uniquely positions me to lead across disciplines and bridge gaps between clinical practice and organizational strategy.
Second, I plan to continue my research collaboration with Dr. Jennifer Embree. Our work on professional identity in nursing, healthy work environments, and stress first aid has already produced peer-reviewed publications and national presentations, and there is much more to explore. I am committed to contributing to the body of evidence that supports nurses in thriving, not just surviving, in their careers.
Third, I am deeply passionate about nursing education and aspire to serve as an adjunct professor at the Indiana University School of Nursing. I want to mentor future DNP students as I was mentored, with genuine care, high standards, and an open door. The IU School of Nursing DNP program changed my life, and I want to pay it forward.
Finally, I will continue my active involvement in nursing policy and advocacy through the Indiana State Nurses Association, the Indiana Organization for Nursing Leadership, and Sigma Theta Tau International, carrying forward everything Dr. Crowder, Dr. Embree, and Dr. Sipes-Fears taught me about showing up for the profession and the patients we serve.