CONFLICT RESOLUTIONIN THE WORKPLACE, AT HOME, SCHOOL, AND/OR WITH

YOUR PEERS

D. D. Millett, RN, BS

Conflict… The main thing to focus on is keeping an open mind and dealing with the conflict as soon as it arises in order to prevent it from escalating. Nursing school is filled with stress and anxiety, as are hospitals, and depending on how you have learned to react to stress will be one of the key factors in determining how you will react to conflict.

The way you MAY truly feel! You learn how to deal with stress and conflicts as a child; and sometimes, you may not have had the best role models or had difficult circumstances that prevented you from learning to handle stressful moments. Given the proper tools, you will be able to learn.

Conflicts… Conflicts occur for multiple reasons; including that you feel that someone you are working with is not doing their fair share of the work or someone within your class who always wants to do things their way. These conflicts are based on emotions, our personal history, and a potentially perceived threat from the other person. How we respond to a conflict is dependent on the combination of all three issues.

The sooner the conflict is addressed, the sooner there will be conflict resolution.

UNHEALTHY WAYS OF REACTING TO CONFLICT:

AGITATED, HURT, SHAME & ANGER CLOSED OFF & EMOTIONAL INABILITY TO SEE THE OTHER PERSON’S SIDE DENIAL OR REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A CONFLICT WANTS TO AVOID THE ISSUE OF THE CONFLICT UNWILLING TO FIND A COMMON GROUND OR TO COMPROMISE FEARFUL OF ABANDONMENT WITHDRAWS, ISOLATION

HEALTHY WAYS OF REACTING TO CONFLICT:

RESPECTFUL & CALM OBJECTIVE & WITH AN OPEN MIND ABILITY TO SEE THE OTHER PERSON’S SIDE ACKNOWLEDGES THERE IS A CONFLICT WANTS TO SEEK RESOLUTION IMMEDIATELY WILLING TO COMPROMISE DESIRE TO SINCERELY “FORGIVE & FORGET”

Keep Open: to Communicating & Resolving ConflictsAs soon asYouKnow About Them.

HELPFUL HINTS TO DECREASE THE EFFECTS OF A CONFLICT:

RESOLVE THE CONFLICT VS. ALWAYS HAVING TO BE RIGHT.

EXAMINE YOUR OWN PART IN THE CONFLICT & TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.

KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

LEARN HOW TO LISTEN & HOW TO SAY, “I AM SORRY.”

HELPFUL HINTS TO DECREASE THE EFFECTS OF A CONFLICT: Learn how to ACTIVELY listen to someone, without interruption.

“LISTEN” and Watch there body language and speak with respect.

Pick your Battles wisely and think about the consequences of your ACTIONS and your WORDS.

And… You may just have

to move on and

Agree to Disagree.

CONFLICT: If still persisting… Agree to go to an instructor Or manager in order to Help resolve the issues Causing the Conflict. They will be objective and Listen to both parties. Most importantly, they will…

…Aid in rebuilding the trust and positive attitude within the work environment and promote

team dynamics.

So your entire Team can work Together Successfully Once again!