Conflict resolution in a pediatric inpatient unit: a best practice implementation project.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Practice
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• Conflict is pervasive in healthcare settings, necessitating effective resolution strategies.
• Organizational education and formal policies are crucial for constructive conflict management among healthcare staff.

Purpose of the Study:

• To promote evidence-based conflict resolution practices in a pediatric inpatient unit.
• To evaluate the impact of an educational intervention and policy recommendations on conflict resolution compliance.

Main Methods:

• A baseline audit using the JBI Practical Application of Clinical Evidence System program assessed conflict resolution practices among 36 staff members.
• A three-phase implementation project involved education, policy update recommendations, and post-implementation audits.
• Intervention included conflict resolution education and communication of policy revision needs to unit leadership.

Main Results:

• Post-implementation audits showed improvements in all seven audit criteria for conflict resolution.
• Significant improvements were observed in establishing formal remediation processes (75%) and follow-up of agreed solutions (83%).
• Overall compliance increased from 24% at baseline to 71% post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• An educational module on conflict resolution strategies, coupled with policy updates, substantially enhanced compliance with best practices.
• Recommendations include increasing accessibility of educational materials and visual reminders for conflict resolution strategies.
• The study highlights the effectiveness of combining education with policy changes to improve conflict resolution in pediatric inpatient settings.