I believe conflicts can be managed by using crtical and creative thinking skills. Conflicts in the healthcare workplace are common and can take on a variety of forms: nurse to physician, nurse to nurse, and nurse to patient/family. Both my research and experience suggests that nurses commonly avoid conflict, rather than engaging in collaborative problem solving about conflict, which would often lead to better solutions. The Critical and Creative Thinking Program at University of Massachusetts Boston has given me the confidence and provided the skills to continue my work using multiple approaches including collaboration in conflict management in the healthcare setting. There is currently no training in conflict management for staff nurses, only for nursing management. However, it is needed at the staff nurse level as well as the leadership level. Consequently, the goal is to design a conflict management workshop for my staff nurses. This workshop would be taught during Annual Competency Day in the PACU.
