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Conflicts and conflict management in the collaboration between nurses and physicians - a qualitative study
A M Leever1, M V D Hulst, A J Berendsen
1Wenckebach Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. a.m.leever@wenckebach.umcg.nl
Journal of Interprofessional Care
|October 6, 2010
Summary
Nurses and physicians manage collaboration conflicts by either ignoring or addressing them. Their chosen conflict management style depends on personal influence, conflict nature, context, and individual motives.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Medical Collaboration
- Conflict Resolution
Background:
- Optimal nurse-physician collaboration is vital for quality healthcare but is not automatic.
- Understanding how healthcare professionals handle conflicts within their collaborative relationships is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how nurses and physicians cope with conflict in their collaboration.
- To identify the determinants influencing their conflict management styles.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study exploring conflict management among healthcare professionals.
- Analysis of factors influencing the choice between ignoring or engaging in conflict.
Main Results:
- Clear expectations are essential for collaboration among respondents.
- Conflict management styles (ignoring vs. engaging) are determined by five key factors.
- These factors include self-influence, other's influence, conflict nature, context, and personal motives.
Conclusions:
- Healthcare professionals have distinct strategies for managing conflict.
- Understanding the determinants of these styles can improve nurse-physician collaboration.
- Further research into conflict resolution in healthcare teams is warranted.
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