ASSESSING CONFLICT MANAGEMENT STYLES AMONG HEAD NURSES WORKING IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL, LAHORE, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Conflict in the workplace can range from minor disagreements to high-intensity disruptions and legal actions. It is often stratified by intensity and categorized by duration as acute, sub-acute, chronic, or interminable. Effective conflict management is critical in healthcare settings to ensure staff well-being and patient safety. Understanding the conflict management styles employed by head nurses is essential for creating a harmonious work environment and improving healthcare delivery outcomes.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the conflict management styles used by head nurses working in a tertiary care hospital in Lahore, Pakistan.

Methods: This quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over four months at the Children’s Hospital Lahore after obtaining approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). The study utilized a convenient sampling technique to recruit 52 head nurses with more than five years of managerial experience. Data were collected using a validated Rahim Organizational Conflict Inventory-II and a sociodemographic questionnaire. The conflict management styles were assessed through a five-point Likert scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with descriptive statistics and linear regression applied to interpret findings.

Results: The study included 52 head nurses, all female, with 71.2% aged over 40 years, 21.2% aged 30–35 years, and 7.7% aged 36–39 years. Most participants (86.5%) had more than 11 years of managerial experience, and all were government employees. Educational qualifications included 67.3% with BSN, 26.9% with GNM, and 5.8% with MSN degrees. Collaborating was the most frequently utilized conflict management style (94.7%), followed by compromising (93.2%), accommodating (91.9%), avoiding (91.35%), and competing (82.32%).

Conclusion: Head nurses employed all five conflict management styles, with collaboration being the most frequently used. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, such as training and education, to further enhance conflict resolution skills in healthcare management.

Keywords: Accommodation, Collaboration, Conflict Management, Cross-Sectional Studies, Hospitals, Nurse Managers, Pakistan.