Essay about Managing Conflict in Healthcare Organizations

A conflict can be described as an interpersonal disagreement between two or more parties having a difference in opinion, controversy, negative understanding or insufficient communication (McKibben, 2017). Within the healthcare arena, conflict cannot be avoided. It can have the ability to have a negative impact on the function of the team and result in inadequate patient care. When poor patient care is provided, the integrity of the nurse, the nursing profession, and healthcare as a whole is endangered (McKibben, 2017). As a result, conflict management is the process of recognizing and dealing with conflict in a realistic, fair, and competent fashion. Productive communication, problem solving, and discussing with a focus on the issues are required skills needed for conflict management (Saeed, Almas, Anis-ul-Haq, & Niazi, 2014).

Conflict means different opinion to different people. In some reason, conflict can cause fighting, war or trade embargos. But for other people it might be a different in opinion, perspective or personality. Others may think they are in a conflict situation, when the other side may feel that they are just discussing opposing views. His situation depends on our effects can result in damaging our relationship. As a charge nurse, we have to be aware how this issue arises and how to overcome and manage this conflict. If this conflict causes an unhealthy situation and we are allowing it to develop , the side effect can result in lasting damage to the relationship between the staff not only in the working place but also a personal relationship. Conflict normally involve opposing views on one or more of the following:

The healthcare industry has long emphasized that staffing issues are a constant concern. It is a worry that influences the safety of both the patient and the nurse. A study reveals that over seventeen percent of new graduate nurses leave their first nursing job within a year, and over thirty-three percent leave within two years (Christine T. Kovner, 2014). Nursing turnover in combination with other important factors will be discussed in greater detail in the following paragraphs.

The National Healthcare Employee Union (NHEU) asserts that the hospital 's retention and recruiting efforts concerning nurse staffing is deficient. This deficiency has led to diminished patient care and more nurses quitting because of the fatigue of being overworked due to staffing shortages.

Conflict will always exist when a group or team is composed with different people with different approaches and ideas. Conflict cannot be avoided and in inevitable. As nurses, it is imperative that we have conflict resolution skills to deal with our day to day encounters (Yoder-Wise,2015).

The nursing shortage in healthcare has been a highlighted issue for many years. With the ever-growing health care system, hospitals and healthcare facilities often find themselves searching for ways to acquire new nurses and retain their very own. Throughout the years, the number one solution to this problem remains the same: decreasing nurse turnover, and increasing nurse retention. This paper discusses the causes of high nurse turnover rate, the negative effects on health care, and ways to improve the turnover rate.

Several factors lead to high nursing turnover. Many nurses cite dissatisfaction with their employer as the main cause for leaving. Some of these registered nurses explain their unhappiness and frustrations were driven from being overwhelmed with the amount of workload per shift, the sense of feeling not valued, the lack of collaboration with other staff members, no career advancement and unfavorable work schedule as

Nursing turnover has been a well-documented issue with regards to retention of competent staff in health care facilities throughout the country (Cartledge, 2001). Turnover is simply defined by Sullivan as the vacating of positions by staff; however, nursing turnover is a phenomenon that must be understood and guarded against (Sullivan, 2013). The effects of turnover can be seen in many aspects of health care including: financial loss, opportunity costs, decreased morale, and shortage of staff. Ultimately turnover becomes an issue where the ability to provide quality care is limited by a lack of experienced nurses (Cartledge, 2001). In fact, the Department of Health recognizes the retention of employees as pivotal to development of increasing ability to provide care for critically ill individuals (Cartledge, 2001).

The current and growing shortage of nurses is posing a real threat to the ability of hospitals, long-term care facilities, and others to provide timely access to quality care. Nurse staffing shortages and nurse turn-over contributes to the growing reduction in the number of staffed patient beds available for services, increasing costs, and rising concerns about the quality of care. Health care organizations highly depend on nurse managers and leaders to reverse this trend. This paper discusses the reasons for nursing shortage and turn-over, different approaches to solve this issue, and my personal philosophy about this issue.

Retaining a stable and sufficient supply of nurses is an important hospital and nationwide concern. Numerous factors affecting retention of registered nurses comprises of practice autonomy, managerial respect, workload, and inclusion in decision making, flexible schedules, education, and pay (“Recruitment”, 2013). Hospitals not capable of retaining qualified registered nurses may result in the loss of experienced and knowledgeable staff. Additionally this will lower hospital productivity during this transition. High turnover rates for registered nursing staff may also impact job fulfillment and nursing moral altogether. Retaining qualified registered nurses will enhance patient care quality and satisfaction.

Conflict is a fact of life - for individuals, organizations, and societies. The costs of conflict are well-documented - high turnover, grievances and lawsuits, absenteeism, divorce, dysfunctional families, prejudice, fear. What many people don't realize is that well-managed conflict can actually be a force for positive change.

Nurse turnover is defined as “the number of nurses changing jobs within an organization or leaving an organization within a given year” (Baumann 2010). Retaining nurses is one of the most important issues in health care as its effects range from challenges in human resource planning, to high costs in financial and organizational productivity (Beecroft et al, 2008), to workgroup processes and morale, to patient safety and quality of care (i.e. patient satisfaction, length of patient stay, patient falls, and medication errors) (Bae et al, 2010). Nursing Solutions Inc (NSI) reported the national average turnover rate for hospitals increased from 13.5% in 2012 to 14.7% last year. Nurses working in Med/Surg had more turnover

Conflict in the workplace causes a decrease in the quality of care. Conflict creates chaos and a higher risk of poor patient care. Additionally low moral equals poor quality of care. As Sullivan stated, disruptive conflict does not follow any set of rules, and parties involved engages in activities to beat their opponent which causes angry, fear, and stress (2012).

Conflict is inescapable, having the ability to recognize, understand, and resolve conflicts are important in both personal and professional lives. Myatt (2012) states that conflict in the workplace is unavoidable; if left unresolved, workplace conflict may result in loss of productivity and the creation of barriers that can inhibit creativity, cooperation, and collaboration. It is vital to embrace conflict and address problems through effective conflict-resolution tactics because if not handled appropriately, conflict will escalate. “If not handled properly, conflict may significantly affect employee morale, increase turnover, and even result in litigation, ultimately affecting the overall well-being of

A continuous concern that continues to present itself within the healthcare environment is adequate staffing on nursing units. Most hospital organizations try their very best to accommodate staffing needs, though many units remain understaffed for an unspecified amount of time. Inadequate staffing can negatively affect patient outcomes, lead to nurse burnout, and decrease patient satisfaction scores. Combating this issue will require a great deal of effort, as many geographical face nursing shortages when seeking new graduates and qualified candidates. Employees may begin to feel that they are unable to pursue personal goals within a healthcare organization, due to inability to transfer as a result of staffing shortages. This often results in nursing seeking employment or career advancement outside of the organization or geographical area, which further intensifies ramification associated with inadequate staffing.