Discussion Week 7 - Replies

Instructions:

Respond to your colleague by sharing ideas for how shortcomings discovered in their evaluations and/or their examples of incivility could have been managed more effectively.

**minimum of three (3) scholarly references are required for each reply cited within the body of the reply & at the end**

Esther Chukwu 

RE: Discussion - Week 7

Introduction

       All human dynamics carry the potential for conflict. In any work situation, conflict is inevitable. Furthermore, recognizing the diversity and fundamental differences in personal experiences, viewpoints, and values among human beings acknowledges conflict as a typical characteristic of human interaction. Nursing and healthcare organizations can be particularly vulnerable to conflict given the more significant number of interactions among individuals with varied daily expectations, roles, and responsibilities. These interactions, when conflictual, may affect safety in the workplace for both patients and professionals. Conflict cannot be eliminated, particularly in healthcare organizations with various stressors and diverse disciplines and professions. (Broome & Marshal, 2021).

      Incivility is rude or disruptive behavior that often results in psychological or physiological distress for the people involved. If left unaddressed, these behaviors may progress into threatening situations or even result in temporary or permanent illness or injury.  Incivility can have serious detrimental effects on individuals, teams, and organizations. In health care, the results of incivility can be devastating by negatively impacting team performance and the delivery of safe patient care, ultimately putting self and others at risk. (Griffin & Clark, 2014).

       A positive, healthy professional care environment makes a difference in reducing error, improving safety, alleviating stress, and generally enhancing the patient and caregiver experience. (Broome & Marshal, 2021).

How civil is my workplace, and why is my workplace civil?

         A civil healthy work environment is where people communicate clearly and effectively and manage conflict respectfully and responsibly. Effective communication fosters a civil work environment, improves teamwork, and ultimately enhances patient care. (Clark, 2015). The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses has identified six standards for establishing and sustaining healthy work environments. These include skilled communication, true collaboration, effective decision-making, appropriate staffing, meaningful recognition, and authentic leadership. (Clark, 2015).

       The work environment assessment overall civility score for my workplace was 89. This indicates that my workplace is moderately healthy. My workplace is moderately healthy because it scored a 5 in some aspects of the assessment scale, such as members of the organization living by a shared vision and mission, involving members of the organization in decision making, having a comprehensive mentoring program for all employees, providing sufficient resources for professional development and growth, emphasis on employee wellness and self-care, employees being able to recommend the place as a great place to work to family and friends, and so on.       

           However, there are some areas in the result that the scores were neutral (3).  These include teamwork and collaboration, assessment and improvement of the organization’s culture, communication, expression of opposing ideas, effective conflict resolution skills, and so on. Though the organization has cultures that would have made the environment a very healthy workplace, some employees, when affected by the stressful healthcare workplace, fall short of practicing in line with the organizational cultures. These are areas for improvement.

         Communication breakdowns, lack of teamwork, and ineffective collaboration rank among the most common and troubling inhibitors to a healthy work environment. Research suggests that high-quality communication in combination with high-quality interpersonal relationships results in better patient outcomes. The treatment for communication breakdown is a strategy that combines skilled communication, collaborative team relationships, and effective use of power. When implemented correctly, these strategies can help an organization stay healthy, creating a culture that promotes safety. (Laureate Education, 2018).

Description of a situation where I have experienced incivility in the workplace and how it was addressed

      A situation where I have experienced incivility in the workplace was when I sent a message to a respiratory therapist to come to the floor to deep suction a patient who though I had suctioned, still needed the attention of a respiratory therapist. The respiratory therapist came to the patient’s room from another floor furious and raised her voice at me stating that nurses do deep suctioning and that I should not call her every four hours to come and deep suction the patient. I left the room to report to the charge nurse. The charge nurse invited the respiratory therapist’s supervisor to the floor to inform her of her misconduct. The respiratory therapist supervisor apologized for her subordinate’s behavior that night and assured us that the respiratory therapist would come to the floor to attend to the patient as needed throughout the shift. She also told us to notify her of any other misconduct. The respiratory therapist was spoken to by her superior. She came to check on the patient on schedule and provided the necessary respiratory care, including deep suctioning for the patient throughout the night.

Conclusion

      Conflict is an inevitable human experience. It can be a source of learning, insight, and creative solutions. The role of the leader is not to eliminate conflict. Instead, the leader should be able to understand, embrace, and effectively deal with conflict. Leaders should also provide staff training and education in dealing with conflict. The aim is to give people a clear process of resolving issues without damaging relationships or organizational morale. Successful conflict resolution can result in an improved therapeutic environment and strengthened human relationships. Effective communication fosters a civil work environment, improves teamwork, and ultimately enhances patient care.

References

Broome, M., & Marshall, E. S. (2021). Transformational leadership in nursing from expert clinician to influential leader. Springer Publishing Company.

Clark, C.M. (2015). Conversations to inspire and promote a more civil workplace. American

          Nurse Today, 10(11), 18-23  https://www.americannursetoday.com/wp-

          content/uploads/2015/11/ant11-CE-Civility-1023.pdf

Griffin, M. & Clark, C.M. (2014). Revisiting cognitive rehearsal as an intervention against

         incivility and lateral violence in nursing:10 years later. Journal of Continuing Education in

         Nursing, 45(12), 535-542

Laureate Education. (2018). Diagnosis: Communication Breakdown [Video file]. Baltimore,

         MD: Author.

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