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Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay

Introduction

Conflict resolution refers to the method whereby two or more warring factions find a diplomatic and harmonious solution to their disagreements. Conflicts may occur between physicians, the healthcare team, the patient’s family, the patient, or between physicians and the staff members. The majority of health amenities may be exposed to the risk of legal sanctions for condoning any hostile working environments. This paper presents a recurring conflict that I have observed between two nurses in a care facility in Miami.

It will outline the events that led to the conflict before detailing how the various conflict stages were manifested in the disagreement I observed, including the strategies that could be applied to handle the disagreement.Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay

Ensuing Events

In the initial conflict, two nurses in Hospital X in Miami were involved in an altercation regarding medical proficiency. Specifically, one of the nurses (Nurse A) inquired on the type of medication that Nurse B had given to one of the patients. This situation prompted Nurse B to respond with a demeaning attitude since she felt disrespected regarding her medical skills. Nurse A reported that she did not think Nurse B was professional in her work and that she did not understand how one would be in a medical facility while having very little knowledge of medication.

This earlier altercation resulted in insults, which were settled down by the medical supervisor. Consequently, Nurse B always felt that she had a heavy burden that she needed to get off her system, and that had only been waiting for the perfect and opportune moment to do so.Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay

On a different day, specifically, some months after the initial altercation, it was apparent that the conflict was unresolved. The two nurses were asked by one of the doctors to assist in dressing some wounds of a severely ill patient. In the presence of the doctor, Nurse B sarcastically asked Nurse A whether she wanted to be the ‘nurse of the year’ and/or whether she (Nurse A) would not also want to tell the doctor about Nurse B’s incompetency to achieve the privilege of being named the ‘nurse of the year’. The two nurses argued and insulted each other before they later physically assaulted each other.Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay

Stages of Conflict

Latent Stage

The latent stage is the first of the four phases of conflict. It is also referred to as the unhinged tranquility period. It occurs when parties are in conflict without their awareness. In most situations, latent disagreement is caused by a team’s disproportionate access to the political command or financial disparity. For instance, the government may fail to respond to the minority group’s plight, which may lead to a feeling of disrespect.

Such disrespect causes tensions and eventually conflict. In the scenario of the conflict between the two nurses, Nurse A feels superior. In this case, she is a more privileged party. Thus, Nurse B feels that she is being disrespected in the form of indirect jibes that are targeted at her. This case manifests a latent conflict.Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay

Specifically, the latent stage comes into play when individuals, organizations, nations, or groups have disagreements, which are not huge enough to cause an altercation. Unique and different interests, differential power, and resources trigger these conflicts. According to Ramont, Niedringhaus, and Towle (2005), social life is a vehement status and power struggle, regardless of the structural type.

In addition, the major cause of latent conflict in all groupings or individuals within social relations is power discrepancy. In this stage, the majority of the participants, especially the ones who are privileged in the power play, are usually unaware of the existence of tensions while the less- privileged parties fully conscious of the situation. Such parties feel that they are being unjustly treated. When they decide to change the situation, a conflict emerges as witnessed between the two nurses.Recurring Conflict between Two Nurses Essay