Instructions:
Respond to at least two other student’s postings with substantive comments.
Do you agree with the posted assessment? Why or why not?
Substantive comments add to the discussion and provide your fellow students with information that will enhance the learning environment.
References and citations should conform to the APA standards.
Remember: Please respect the opinions of others, even if their views differ. In other words, disagree professionally and respectfully.
Plagiarism is never acceptable – give credit when credit is due – cite your sources.
Responses need to address all components of the question, demonstrate critical thinking and analysis, and include peer reviewed journal evidence to support the student’s position.
Peer # 1 (Reagan)
Discuss a time that you had a conflict with a superior in the organization.
I have never personally experienced conflict with a superior of an organization, however, just recently I was involved in an issue that included our entire unit. In the Cath Lab, teamwork and communication are essential. My current department has a mix of staff including procedural nurses, recovery nurses, radiology technicians, and physicians. Our roles are intertwined with the common goal of enhancing patient safety, reducing clinical errors, and decreasing wait times between procedures. As a charge nurse in this department, it is essential to have a positive, team-effort mentality to run the department smoothly and provide high-quality, efficient care to patients. Our current charge nurse is responsible for managing the flow between the procedural area and the recovery area, however, due to unmanaged conflict between the charge nurse and the recovery area nurses, patient care was delayed and compromised. The physician notified the charge nurse of a STEMI patient but chose not to notify the recovery unit that this procedure was taking place due to a particular disagreement between the charge nurse and one of the recovery nurses. Once the procedure was over, the patient was brought to the recovery unit, however, it was a busy day and all of the rooms were full. The recovery nurses weren’t given the time to find a solution to obtain an empty bed because they were unaware of this add-on case. The recovery nurses were so angry and frustrated after this incident that they chose to stop helping bring patients down from the floors to get them ready for the procedure. This caused a delay in procedures because the procedure nurses would be ready to pick up the patients to bring them to the back, however, the patient had not been prepped or consented. After two weeks of this conflict, the recovery nurses went to our manager about the issue, however, our manager suggested that the staff should try to work it out themselves. This led to a conversation between a recovery nurse and the charge nurse that spiraled out of control and staff members threatened to quit.
Discuss the roles that negotiation, power, and organizational politics played in the final resolution.
Negotiation is often required to resolve conflicting parties with back-and-forth communication (Hitt et al., 2018). In negation to resolve this conflict, our manager rearranged the monthly staffing schedule and our daily assignments.
Would you describe the outcome as lose-lose, win-lose, compromise, or win-win? Why? What could have been handled differently to create a win-win situation?
I would describe the outcome as compromised because the root of the problem was not addressed or fixed. I believe the intragroup disagreements should have been handled immediately instead of delaying the confrontation to create a win-win situation. By delaying confrontation of conflict, tension builds, and situations spiral out of control when in reality, it could have been a simple miscommunication or misunderstanding. According to Grubaugh & Flynn (2018), the nursing manager’s ability to lead in the development and support of a professional practice environment fosters effective conflict resolution strategies and, as a result, greater unit effectiveness.
In the end, conflict is good if the organization and individuals develop and grow, they learn from the event – did this happen with the event that you discussed?
Successful conflict resolution reduces individual frustration and stress and can increase team effectiveness, as evidenced by team backup. Sustained and unmanaged conflict among healthcare professionals, on the other hand, causes stress, weakened collaboration and problem-solving, and lower team effectiveness and communication (Grubaugh & Flynn, 2018). Overall, I believe some parts of the organization and individuals did develop and grow positive experiences from the event. A simple conversation can make a major difference.
Peer # 2 (Lucero)
Discuss a time that you had a conflict with a superior in the organization.
I once encountered a conflict with a former supervisor at a hotel where I used to work. At the time, I was 18 years old, balancing the responsibilities of being a new mother and completing high school. Initially, I was hired for a part-time role as a set-up and clean-up person for the hotel’s mini lunch area, which was ideal as it required me to work only four hours every other day.
However, my supervisor later convinced me to become her assistant in inspecting the rooms cleaned by housekeeping to ensure they were properly maintained. I agreed, thinking it would be an interesting role without fully understanding the consequences. Despite taking on additional responsibilities, I didn’t receive a raise, and any mistakes during room inspections were attributed to me, leading to potential repercussions.
To make matters worse, my supervisor started scheduling me to work on days when I had school. When I raised my concerns about this conflict between work and school, she dismissively suggested I quit school, asserting that work was more important.
Feeling inexperienced and under pressure, I made the difficult decision to quit the job and prioritize my education. It was disappointing because I had valued the job, but the inflexibility of the supervisor made it untenable. Later on, I discovered that she had a pattern of trying to delegate her responsibilities onto younger employees while refusing to adjust schedules or provide appropriate support.
Fortunately, the hotel eventually took action, and she was dismissed, likely due to similar complaints from other employees who had experienced similar issues.
Discuss the roles that negotiation, power, and organizational politics played in the final resolution.
Honestly, I attempted to discuss adjusting my work hours so I could continue attending school during the day, but she was unwilling. I didn’t realize I had the option to speak with a higher authority other than her to discuss my concerns. At that time, I was unaware of the company’s policies.
Would you describe the outcome as lose-lose, win-lose, compromise, or win-win? Why?
In my case, I believe it was a situation where one party benefited while the other suffered, as she managed to evade responsibility for months before being discovered. Following that, I encountered difficulties securing a job promptly, partly due to my school commitments and my lack of experience in job applications and interviews.
What could have been handled differently to create a win-win situation?
Understanding my rights as an employee regarding policies and procedures would have been extremely beneficial. It would have allowed me to negotiate my work schedule, increase my salary, and define my roles and boundaries. Furthermore, I would not have resigned until I had addressed my concerns with higher-ups regarding their demands. This approach could have preserved my job, allowing me to remain employed while continuing to attend school.
In the end, conflict is good if the organization and individuals develop and grow, they learn from the event – did this happen with the event that you discussed?
From my perspective, I initially struggled to learn anything due to my lack of familiarity with the employment landscape. However, over the years of actively working and seeking clarification, I’ve gained invaluable insights. These experiences taught me not only to advocate for myself but also to understand the significance of company policies and procedures. This knowledge can significantly impact one’s career trajectory, underscoring the importance of familiarizing oneself with such protocols to avoid exploitation. In the case of a nursing role, understanding policies and procedures is crucial because of the legal implications that nurses can face if a procedure is not followed correctly (O’Donnell & Vogenberg, 2012).
Regarding the incident with that superior, I sincerely hope that she has gleaned important lessons from her mistakes. Her actions caused me considerable hardship, and I empathize with others who may find themselves in similar situations. It’s crucial for individuals to learn from missteps to prevent harm to themselves and others in the future.
