Gender, cultural, and generational differences

Scenario: Gender, cultural, and generational differences add to the challenges of interpersonal communication, especially when mixed in a stressful healthcare environment. Many times the conflict progresses and may involve some level of bullying. You recently graduated from an RN-to-DNP program, you belong to the millennial generation (also called Generation Y), and you were just promoted to Director of Critical Care Services. It feels like you have been in school forever, but you still managed to work 20-30 hours/week as a charge nurse on a busy cardiovascular (CV) step-down unit throughout school.

The Nurse Manager from your CV-ICU, who is a female and belongs to the Baby Boomer generation, has informed you she is closing four beds for the night shift due to inadequate staffing levels. When you object to her plan, she states, “You don’t know what you are talking about; this is what is done when you don’t have enough staff.”

You present the staffing dilemma to your Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), who is a male and also belongs to the Baby Boomer generation. The CNO responds by stating, “Your nurse manager’s solution is not an option. I hired you for this job because of your education, clinical experience, and ability to bring new ideas to the department. Closing beds is not an option; figure it out.”

Instructions:

Read the Scenario above, and then answer the questions below:
What is the source of this conflict?
What type of conflict does this represent?
Apply the best resolution strategy to address the staffing issue with your nurse manager.
What is the best response and course of action to the statement made by your CNO to “figure it out.”?

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Sample Answer

 

 

The source of the conflict in this scenario is the difference in opinions on how to address the staffing issue. The nurse manager believes that closing four beds is the best solution, while the new Director of Critical Care Services believes that this is not an option. The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) agrees with the Director of Critical Care Services and tells them to “figure it out.”

Full Answer Section

 

 

Type of conflict

This type of conflict can be classified as a task conflict. Task conflict is a disagreement over how to achieve a common goal. In this case, the common goal is to provide safe and effective care to patients, but the nurse manager and the Director of Critical Care Services disagree on how to achieve this goal in the face of inadequate staffing levels.

Best resolution strategy to address the staffing issue with the nurse manager

The best resolution strategy to address the staffing issue with the nurse manager is to collaborate. Collaboration is a process in which two or more people work together to achieve a common goal. In this case, the Director of Critical Care Services should work with the nurse manager to develop a plan to safely staff the unit without closing four beds.

The first step in collaboration is to listen to each other’s perspectives. The Director of Critical Care Services should listen to the nurse manager’s concerns about staffing levels and why she believes closing four beds is the best solution. The Director of Critical Care Services should then share their own perspective on why closing four beds is not an option.

Once each person has had a chance to share their perspective, the next step is to identify common ground. What are the shared goals of the Director of Critical Care Services and the nurse manager? In this case, the shared goal is to provide safe and effective care to patients.

Once common ground has been identified, the next step is to brainstorm possible solutions. The Director of Critical Care Services and the nurse manager should work together to develop a list of possible solutions to the staffing issue. Some possible solutions include:

  • Asking for additional staff from the float pool
  • Combining units
  • Temporarily suspending elective procedures
  • Asking staff to work extra hours

Once a list of possible solutions has been developed, the next step is to evaluate the solutions. The Director of Critical Care Services and the nurse manager should consider the feasibility, safety, and impact on patient care of each solution.

Once a solution has been selected, the next step is to implement the solution. The Director of Critical Care Services and the nurse manager should work together to implement the solution and monitor its effectiveness.

Best response and course of action to the statement made by your CNO to “figure it out.”

The best response and course of action to the statement made by the CNO to “figure it out” is to develop a plan and present it to the CNO. The Director of Critical Care Services should work with the nurse manager to develop a plan to safely staff the unit without closing four beds. The plan should include a list of possible solutions, an evaluation of each solution, and a recommended solution.

Once the plan has been developed, the Director of Critical Care Services should present it to the CNO. The Director of Critical Care Services should explain the staffing issue, the possible solutions, and the recommended solution. The Director of Critical Care Services should also be prepared to answer any questions that the CNO may have.

In addition to developing and presenting a plan to the CNO, the Director of Critical Care Services should also continue to advocate for safe staffing levels. The Director of Critical Care Services can do this by talking to the CNO, other hospital leaders, and other nurses about the importance of safe staffing.

Here is a summary of the best resolution strategy to address the staffing issue with the nurse manager and the best response and course of action to the statement made by the CNO to “figure it out”:

Best resolution strategy to address the staffing issue with the nurse manager:

  1. Listen to each other’s perspectives.
  2. Identify common ground.
  3. Brainstorm possible solutions.
  4. Evaluate the solutions.
  5. Select a solution.
  6. Implement the solution and monitor its effectiveness.

Best response and course of action to the statement made by the CNO to “figure it out.”:

  1. Develop a plan to safely staff the unit without closing four beds.
  2. Present the plan to the CNO.
  3. Continue to advocate for safe staffing levels.

It is important to note that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to conflict resolution. The best approach will vary depending on the specific situation and the people involved. However, the strategies outlined above are a good starting point for resolving conflict in a healthcare setting.

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