NR 582 Week 3 Discussion Board

Grace J.
September 2, 2025September 2, 2025
CU MSN, NR-582

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-582: Leadership and Role Development for Advanced Nursing Practice

Prof. Name

Date

Week 3 Discussion Board

General Instructions

Conflict is a common challenge within healthcare environments. It frequently arises due to hierarchical structures, unequal power dynamics, ineffective communication, disruptive conduct, and the diversity present in interprofessional and multigenerational teams. Because of these factors, nurses and healthcare professionals must possess strong skills in identifying conflicts, understanding their root causes, and applying appropriate resolution strategies. Effective conflict management is vital for maintaining patient safety, fostering teamwork, and ensuring high-quality care delivery.

Application of Course Knowledge

a. Describe a conflict you have encountered in your nursing practice. Identify the stakeholders involved and their roles.

During my travel nursing assignment in a progressive care unit (PCU), I experienced a conflict with a patient care technician (PCT). At the time, I was unfamiliar with the unit’s workflow and responsible for five patients, including a new admission from the emergency department with suspected stroke symptoms. The patient requested to shower independently, which raised safety concerns. I suggested safer alternatives such as a bed bath and requested PCT assistance. Initially, the PCT agreed to help within 30 minutes, but over an hour passed without any support. When I assisted the patient myself, I later discovered that the PCT had left for her lunch break without notifying me.

This conflict highlighted the importance of communication and teamwork in ensuring patient safety.

Stakeholders and Their Roles

Stakeholder	Role in the Conflict
Registered Nurse (Myself)	Accountable for patient safety, overall care management, and coordination with team members.
Patient	Desired autonomy and independence in performing self-care despite safety risks.
Patient Care Technician (PCT)	Responsible for assisting with activities of daily living, including showering support.

b. Analyze how the conflict was resolved. Which conflict resolution style was used?

The conflict was resolved through calm communication and a patient-centered approach. Instead of reacting defensively to the PCT’s actions, I explained the importance of timely communication for ensuring patient safety. This response helped defuse tension and kept the focus on care delivery.

The conflict resolution style employed was collaboration. This method balanced both parties’ perspectives: the PCT’s workload and my priority of ensuring patient safety. Collaboration encouraged dialogue, problem-solving, and shared accountability.

c. Evaluate the efficacy of the resolution. Was the conflict resolution style used to address the conflict the most appropriate option? Why or why not?

The collaborative approach was effective because it prevented escalation and promoted teamwork for the remainder of the shift. By highlighting shared priorities—patient safety and quality care—the conflict was transformed into a constructive learning moment.

Collaboration was the most appropriate method as it improved trust, strengthened professional relationships, and emphasized accountability. Alternative styles, such as avoidance, would have ignored the underlying communication issue, while competing might have created hostility. Collaboration instead built mutual respect and reinforced a culture of cooperation.

d. Identify and describe your preferred mode of conflict resolution.

My preferred conflict resolution strategy is active listening. This involves providing full attention to the speaker, paraphrasing their concerns, and validating their emotions. Active listening ensures that both the emotional and practical aspects of conflict are addressed.

By using this approach, I can identify the underlying causes of disagreement, reduce defensiveness, and promote a supportive environment. In nursing practice, active listening is particularly valuable as it fosters empathy, encourages teamwork, and aligns with patient-centered care principles.

Research supports that active listening builds trust, enhances collaboration, and is essential in healthcare where communication often determines patient outcomes (Weger et al., 2010).

Peer Response #1

Hi _____, I found your post insightful. The way your unit manager addressed the situation by rotating the charge nurse role and introducing additional training was inspiring. This demonstrated a collaborative leadership style, where shared responsibility and fairness are emphasized.

Collaborative leadership encourages openness, inclusivity, and teamwork. Although conflicts may still arise, this style allows leaders to resolve disputes constructively using open dialogue, active listening, and inclusive decision-making. Such an approach strengthens relationships, builds professional trust, and fosters a workplace culture of adaptability and continuous improvement (DiBello, 2019).

Faculty Response

Question: Active listening is an essential skill. How do you think that you will use active listening to resolve conflict related to patient care in your future APRN role?

Response:
Dr. Rebecca, in my future APRN role, I see active listening as a cornerstone for managing patient and team conflicts. Active listening fosters respect and reduces defensiveness during difficult interactions. By carefully listening to patients and colleagues, I can create an atmosphere of trust where concerns are acknowledged.

In clinical practice, this skill will help de-escalate conflicts by ensuring patients feel valued, which increases cooperation rather than resistance. Additionally, active listening enables me to identify subtle patient concerns that might otherwise be overlooked, ensuring holistic care delivery. Establishing authentic rapport through listening also promotes shared decision-making and strengthens therapeutic relationships (Doas, 2015).

References

DiBello, K. (2019). Collaborative leadership. AAACN Viewpoint, 41(4), 15–16.
https://chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/login?qurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proquest.com%2Fscholarly-journals%2Fcollaborative-leadership%2Fdocview%2F2309764587%2Fse-2%3Faccountid%3D147674

Doas, M. (2015). Are we losing the art of actively listening to our patients? Connecting the art of active listening with emotionally competent behaviors. Open Journal of Nursing, 5(6), 566–570. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojn.2015.56060