Conflict resolution in nursing
1. Choice of topic and reason for choosing it
Nurses working at a clinical or any other health care facility always face a lot of conflicts in line of duty. These disagreements come from interaction with a variety of groups of people within their area of work. The variances may be experienced emotionally or externally relating to their work environment. At times, these nurses have divergence of believes on the things they solemnly put hope in and that are required from them at work. This may change their approach on certain issues linked with their lives. Their mode of approach changes thus forcing them to make changes in life based decision-making. This is insufficient since it transforms them into individuals who they are not. Just like anyone who is working, nurses have goals that they would like to achieve, as they work or after a given duration of working. This topic was chosen because it covers working relationships that sometimes pose to be extremely critical for the nursing unit to have effective functions. The healthcare team has the responsibility of collaborating roles to navigate daily liability that overlaps rottenly. The topic reflects on effective management and resolution on conflicts that require a level of understanding and clear communication.
2. Description on how liberal arts and nursing courses impacted me
Working as a nurse may have issues that clash with the goals that one has set in a number of ways thus creating an obstacle to achieving the goals set. These obstacles creating a barrier that limits one from getting to the goals set are better in reference to one’s internal conflicts. Health principles are the most contributing factors to these internal clashes to nurse’s achievements. They are a part of the reasons why a nurse may fail to attain the goals set or delaying the time one has set to achieve a given level in life. It makes one lose the potential to achieve the goals set as well as the aggressiveness present at the beginning of the nursing carrier.
While working as a nurse, I learnt that external conflicts are frequently experienced when one has a superior who makes life at work more and more unbearable. If the working environment is insufficient, the nurse who works under it will either decide to quit or work but with remarkably limited interest. Other ways in which a nurse experiences discouraging and demoralizing conflicts are when they are dealing with patients who are rebellious to the instructions laid upon them by the nurse. Such cases result in problems by the nurses to their bosses who have tremendous expectations of them. Competition from fellow working colleagues is another conflict that a nurse experiences in the line of duty. When one is doing an admirable job, and he or she is at a similar level with somebody, it puts the other in an alarming position. There will always be cases of competition among working mates despite the imperfect picture resulting from the one who is not performing according to the required levels.
Some of these conflicts are avoidable if a nurse can manage the way he or she conducts the duties at work. Conflict management turns out to be the best and only alternative to handle cases of conflicts that result in nursing. These conflicts deny nurses the chance of achieving the goals set, dreams, and ambitions. Therefore, if they are not in proper consideration, then they will eventually disappoint one who is working as a nurse. Some of these conflicts call for a lot of determination to overcome them. Working as a nurse entails being tough when judging. In cases when one deals with emotions relating to what colleagues said about him or her, the nurse should work hard to correct the areas with default and ensure no traces of mistakes are evident.
3. Reflection on how I dealt with a similar situation on a unit with another nurse
In most considerate situations, the anticipated outcomes are achievable only when the involved parties in the problem coordinate and work together towards the realization of a permanent solution in a collaborative manner. The procedural processes recognized to work better are illustrative as interest-based approaches. Application of interest-based approaches implies that the conflict involving parties only focuses on the interests of the conflict rather than on positions considered to be taken. Being a nurse manager, I experienced a conflict in the line of duty. The conflict resulted from poor communication and assumed lack of leadership support by the direct care nurse. A lesson well learnt was that the significant goal to arrive at a solution is to work towards achieving a resolution that will enable everyone involved to access what they need. This is contrary to try to win or defeat the other direct care nurse.
Collaborative approaches to help manage similar situations as a nurse manager in the future include mediation, negotiation, and arbitration that are interest based. Applying collaborative approach in handling lack of managerial support, poor communication conflict, and increasing standards of performance allowed to maintain the working relationship positively. In such a situation, the most significant step to handle the situation is negotiating a solution that works for all.
4. Show I manage a similar situation as a nurse manger in the future
To improve and manage conflicts, improvement of communication skills has been my greatest concern. Seeking to understand, an individual is more likely to formulate a response by practicing the uppermost listening including active or empathic listening. This makes communication the heart of conflict and its resolution. As a nurse, learning to communicate better and interact more successfully with fellow stuff and better understanding of the worldview of those having differing experiences is a priority. Capital Liberal Arts Nursing Program helps prepare professional nurses to be self-assured, competent generalists with critical thinking capability, to engage in clinical inquiries, to communicate with effectiveness, to access and manage clients health needs in setting varieties.
5. Valuable lessons I have learnt and the new insights gained from the nursing leadership class taken at the college
Getting an education on conflict and its management forms a part of my health care professional aspect offered in Capital Liberal Arts Nursing Program. This includes an overview of conflict approaches and principles that are basic and facilitative. As a reflection of a conflict situation with fellow nurses affecting job performance, a nurse should seek help from educators, managers, or clinical leaders. This is after realizing how to utilize the available opportunities due to involvement in the nursing council that enables nurses to help define the role of nursing at Grant Hospital. When a nurse has conflicts at the hospital, venting to other nurses should not be an option since it causes tension within the unit. The fundamental step is to try discussing and resolving the issue quietly. This is in recognition that differences arise in response to conflict resolutions.
Valuable lessons learnt at the Capital Liberal Arts Nursing Program are the recognition of the value of bringing issues out in the open before they turn into problems. The nurses should be aware of triggers and respond to them upon noticing. Having a process for conflict resolution is also of great significance. Bringing issues to meetings and agreeing upon them are noteworthy concerning what should be done in cases of differing viewpoints. In the process of conflict resolution among nurses, everyone should be equipped with conflict-resolution skills and should be expected to apply them whenever necessary. Encouraging inter-professional communication in nursing considering it as a proactive measure in addressing any conflict issue is of importance when moving towards resolution.
6. Summary of how making my education work for me
Encountering conflicts is an inevitable fact in nursing as a profession. As a nurse, I will be using the education acquired from Capital University to maintain my current position. Being in possession of BSN is a fundamental requirement at the Grant Hospital. Currently, my interest is not in management; thus I will not continue my education.
References
Finkelman, A. W., & Kenner, C. (2012). Professional nursing concepts: Competencies for quality leadership. Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Kelly, P. (2010). Essentials of nursing leadership & management. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Lipe, S. K., & Beasley, S. (2004). Critical thinking in nursing: A cognitive skills workbook. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Masters, K. (2009). Role development in professional nursing practice. Sudbury, Mass: Jones and Bartlett Pub.
