Conflicts management in public sector nursing

Abstract

We investigated the sources of conflicts in nursing and individual as well as nurse management strategies for conflict resolution, according to certain demographic and work-related characteristics. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a five-part questionnaire, which was administered to 100 nurses. The majority of nurses reported conflict with other professions, usually physicians, and this type of conflict was mostly reported by the more experienced and in managerial positions nurses. The most common style for conflict management was avoidance, followed by collaboration and also in significantly smaller percentages compromise, competition, mediation and accommodation. Age, work experience, education and managerial position significantly affected the strategy of choice for conflict resolution, with younger nurses, with less responsibilities and no previous conflict management education choosing avoidance as their primary strategy. Collaboration was a strategy chosen by the more educated nurses and the supervisor was the most appropriate person for conflict management. The majority of the nurses reported that the management style of choice was problem solving, indicating a more appropriate and integrated management style that often relates to better job satisfaction and work relations. The most effective way in conflict management is improving our understanding and clarifying the parameters that structure the situation in hand.