From tall poppies to squashed weeds*: why don't nurses pull together more?

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Social Science
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Traditional explanations for nursing staff conflict, often termed horizontal violence, primarily rely on oppression and feminist theories.
• These macro-level analyses focus on nurses' disempowerment relative to dominant groups, such as male doctors, and their role in perpetuating inequality.
• Existing theories often overlook the nuances of individual aggressive behaviors and the complexities of workplace dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a comprehensive conceptual framework for understanding interpersonal conflict within the nursing profession.
• To broaden the discourse on the multifaceted causes of staff conflict in nursing.
• To integrate macro, meso, and micro-level analyses for a more complete understanding of workplace relationships.

Main Methods:

• A critical analysis was conducted.
• The analysis was based on an extensive literature review.
• The literature review was adapted from a doctoral dissertation.

Main Results:

• Oppression and feminist theories, while insightful, offer limited explanations for the intricacies of staff conflict.
• A multi-level framework encompassing macro, meso, and micro-analyses is proposed for a fuller understanding.
• Macro-level: nurses' relationships with dominant groups.
• Meso-level: organizational structures and workplace practices.
• Micro-level: the interactional dynamics of interpersonal conflict.

Conclusions:

• Interpersonal conflict in nursing is perpetuated not only by external oppressive forces but also by nurses' own actions and inactions.
• Nurses can act as 'gatekeepers' to the status quo through their everyday interactions and workplace behaviors.
• A nuanced, multi-level approach is essential for effectively addressing and mitigating conflict in nursing environments.