The Process of Work Conflict Resolution by Nurses: Grounded Theory Approach.

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Conflict is a common and inevitable issue in any work place team work. Today work conflict are one of the major concerns of all organizations including health care organizations. Research show nursing conflicts are an important problem all over the world but there is still little knowledge about the occurrence and resolution process of nurses' work conflicts. This research is conducted to reveal the process of conflict resolution of Iranian nurses. Methods: A qualitative method with grounded theory approach was used. Data collected through unstructured and in –depth interviews with 18 graduated nurses with BS degree and in a range of 1-28 years experiences. Selective and theoretical sampling methods were used for recruiting participants. Constant comparative method with open, axillaries and selective coding applied for data analysis according to Strauss and Corbin 1998 method. Findings: Perpetuity of traditional attitude toward nursing and feeling threats are two repetitious concepts emerged in nearly all participants' interviews. These are considered as basic social psychological problems which leads to feeling rights spoiled among nurses. An effort to preventing from rights spoiling is known as core variable in this study which can explain the process of nurses' work conflicts. A four stages model developed to explain different stage of the resolution process of nurses' work conflict: contact with an event, mental analysis of situation, behavioral manifestation and conflict outcomes. Discovering a new phase in second stage of conflict resolution process called cognitional shock become distinguished by transiency and perplexity. Findings also resulted in developing types of conflict and comprehensive classification of conflict strategies. Discussion: Findings show nursing conflict in clinical setting focus on marginal issues rather than nursing task. Generational simulation process is known as the main cause. Feeling vulnerable to rights spoiled leads nurses wasted a great deal of energy to prevent the probable threats from work environment. Moving away from organizational objectives is the unwanted consequence of this process. Model provided in this study have implications for administrators to recognize causes and strategies of nursing conflicts in order to treat them correctly.