A Little Book of Manners in Health Care

“How to curb your inner psychopath, prevent incivility, lead with kindness, and enjoy your work” 

This session examines how behaviour in healthcare workplaces changes under pressure and why lapses in professional manners are rarely about personality and more often about fatigue, cognitive overload, stress, and organisational culture. Workplace manners matter and this session provides the why and how of maintaining them.
CPD HOURS: 1
 Registration Year 2025/2026

Course Content

This session examines how behaviour in healthcare workplaces changes under pressure and why lapses in professional manners are rarely about personality and more often about fatigue, cognitive overload, stress, and organisational culture.

Participants will explore the neuroscience of threat responses, the impact of incivility on patient safety and team functioning, and practical strategies for maintaining respectful communication even in high-intensity situations.

Through real-world examples and evidence-informed techniques, the session focuses on emotional regulation, neutral communication, boundary setting, and the use of structured language to prevent escalation. Emphasis is placed on understanding behaviour without excusing harmful conduct, recognising early signs of overload, and restoring professional interactions when they deteriorate.

This education supports safe practice by strengthening interpersonal skills that underpin teamwork, psychological safety, and quality care in complex clinical environments. 

Why this Session may be Relevant to your Work

As a nurse, this session is relevant because the way clinicians communicate under pressure directly affects patient safety, teamwork, and my own professional reputation. Developing practical skills to regulate my responses, communicate respectfully, set boundaries, and repair difficult interactions helps maintain professionalism even when conditions are challenging. These skills support safer care, stronger team relationships, reduced stress, and compliance with professional expectations for conduct in clinical practice.

Learning Outcomes

In this session, you will:
  • Explain how stress, fatigue, and cognitive overload influence behaviour and communication in healthcare settings. 
  • Recognise how incivility and poor workplace manners affect patient safety, staff wellbeing, and team performance. 
  • Apply practical strategies for maintaining respectful communication under pressure, including neutral language and prepared phrases. 
  • Demonstrate approaches to setting professional boundaries and repairing relationships following difficult interactions. 

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Sue Walker

RN, BN, BN (ADMIN), MPHC, MACN

Sue is the Director and Co-Founder of Nurses for Nurses (NFNN), delivering national and international conferences, study tours and professional development programs for nurses and midwives. She is also a key contributor to Nursing CPD, an online education platform supporting nurses to meet NMBA Continuing Professional Development requirements through accessible, evidence-based learning that is firmly grounded in real-world practice.