When Bothering is Part of Professional Practice: Interprofessional Collaboration and Institutional Influences in Primary Care

Interpersonal conflicts in nursing through the lens of senior nursing students: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Unmanaged interpersonal conflicts emerge as significant obstacles for the nursing team during daily duties. Observations and discussions with nursing undergraduate students determined the need to explore their perspectives on conflict management in greater depth.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the perspectives of senior undergraduate nursing students on conflicts experienced by nurses during clinical practice, as well as the strategies employed to manage these conflicts.

DESIGN

This is a qualitative descriptive study.

PARTICIPANTS

The study involved written interviews with 31 senior undergraduate nursing students from a university in Istanbul, Türkiye.

METHODS

Data were collected between November 23, 2023, and December 4, 2023. Thematic analysis was used.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged: (1) Causes of conflicts, (2) Methods for resolving conflicts, (3) Nurse managers' approaches, and (4) Student learning through observation. The themes were organized under 13 sub-themes: ineffective communication, absence of a singular goal, misunderstanding in role boundaries, and lack of professionalism (first theme); transparent communication, absolute loss, integration, and softening (second theme); autonomy in conflict resolution and seeking other professionals to manage conflicts (third theme); positive side of the conflict, negative side of the conflict, and how I would act if I were the nurse manager (fourth theme).

CONCLUSIONS

Nursing students know that staff nurses and nurse managers play crucial roles in conflict management. Communication issues were identified as significant causes of conflicts. Open communication and the active involvement of nurse managers were determined as essential for effective conflict resolution. Positive outcomes of conflicts included changes in attitudes; however, conflicts were also acknowledged as contributors to workplace stress. The study underscores the importance of equipping nurses with conflict resolution skills through practical educational approaches.

Interpersonal relationships of the nursing team in the work environment according to nursing students: A qualitative study

AIM

To explore the perceptions of nursing students from Brazilian universities about the interpersonal relationship of the nursing team in the work environment.

BACKGROUND

Healthcare institutions are complex entities where diverse professionals from different educational backgrounds work together to provide high-quality care to the population. The effective coordination of services within these institutions is closely linked to the interpersonal relationships among these different healthcare professionals. Nurses play a crucial role as members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team, acting as fundamental links between other professionals and patients.

DESIGN

This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach.

METHODS

An online, open-ended questionnaire was used. A total of 30 nursing students participated in the study.

RESULTS

Data were organized in two themes: (1) Interpersonal relationships of the nursing team and (2) Improving interpersonal relationships of the nursing team. Also, eight sub-themes were identified: Conflict dynamics within the nursing team, Hierarchical issues, Lack of communication, Impact of workplace interpersonal relationships on nursing students, Valuing the profession, Understanding role boundaries, Training in effective communication and conflict management, and Curricular reform.

CONCLUSIONS

Blurred boundaries between professional roles, lack of respect, ineffective communication, hierarchical issues, and conflicts, were identified. Of particular concern was the limited interaction observed between the nursing team and multidisciplinary/support teams. Inadequate interpersonal relationships between members of the health team reflect negatively on nursing students during their clinical placements. These findings underscore the urgent need for interventions aimed at improving interpersonal relationships within nursing teams.