A Study of Interpersonal Conflict Among Operating Room Nurses

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Conflict Resolution

Background:

• Effective team collaboration is crucial for operating room (OR) performance.
• OR nurses' ability to manage interpersonal conflict directly impacts team dynamics and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the interpersonal conflict management capabilities of OR nursing staff.
• To explore relationships between OR nurse demographics, work variables, conflict management styles, and conflict targets.

Main Methods:

• A survey of 201 OR nurses with over 6 months of experience.
• Data collected via demographic survey, conflict management scale, and conflict parties/frequency scale.
• Statistical analysis included t-tests, ANOVA, Scheffe's test, and Pearson's correlation.

Main Results:

• Integration and arbitration were the most common conflict management strategies.
• Medical doctors, OR nurses, and anesthetists were frequent targets of conflict.
• Educational background, job position, prior experience, seniority, and hospital level influenced conflict management strategies.
• License level, prior experience, seniority, and OR commitment correlated with conflict targets and frequency.

Conclusions:

• Promoting a more supportive OR communication environment can encourage constructive conflict management among junior nurses.
• Prior experience in other departments is a key consideration for OR nurse recruitment.
• Understanding factors influencing conflict management styles and targets can inform targeted interventions to improve OR team collaboration and performance.