[Crisis management and medical disputes related to nursing practice]

The number of medical dispute cases has been increasing, due to uncertainties about medical care quality and outcomes as well as the increased influence of consumer-centered ideology. This situation has created difficulties in the relationships between patients/family members and health care providers. This paper focuses on discussing crisis management and medical disputes as related to nursing practice. Reviewed literature was organized into four parts: understanding crisis management; crises in medical institutions; nursing practice, medical disputes and crisis management; practical implications. The information included in this paper might improve nurses' and administrators' knowledge of crisis management, enhance the implementation of crisis management strategies in medical disputes, and reduce financial losses and psychological distress resulting from inappropriate crisis management.