NR 446 Rossetti Collaborative Healthcare Week 3 Paper Observed Workplace Conflict

The scenario that occurred at my workplace involved a conflict between an LVN and an RN over access to the medication dispensing machine (Omnicell). The floor had only one Omnicell for 25 beds, and after the report, nurses were anxious to pull the 8 and 9 p.m. meds for their patients. Mary, the LVN, was observed in the medication room with her workplace-on-wheels (WOW) at the Omnicell, pulling large quantities of pills for approximately four of her patients and putting them in different patient’s medication drawers. Sue, the RN, entered the room and stood waiting for her turn at the Omnicell, while call lights were buzzing non-stop. Sue asked Mary if she needed to pull all her medications right away, to which Mary replied with indifference. Sue then suggested that Mary could come back later for the remaining medications so that all nurses could pull a few meds and help answer the call lights. Mary refused and continued to pull medications for all her patients. Sue appeared aggravated and left to answer call lights while loudly telling another LVN, Lindsey, not to bother trying to get meds for her patients because Mary was hogging the Omnicell. This conflict appeared to be highly unsatisfactory, and no benefit was gained from the interaction between the involved parties.

Stages of Conflict

According to Finkelman’s (2016) framework, conflict progresses through four stages: latent, perceived, felt, and manifest. In this scenario, the conflict arises from competition over a limited resource – the Omnicell on the unit. Sue becomes aware of the conflict as she perceives the impact of the waiting patients and grows increasingly anxious. As the tension mounts, Sue experiences feelings of anxiety, anger, and stress, while Mary remains resistant to change her plan of action. Ultimately, the conflict reaches the manifest stage, which involves overt conflict. Mary continues to pull meds for all her patients, while Sue becomes visibly aggravated and exhibits destructive behavior by involving Lindsey in the conflict.