Scenario - You are working in a hospital, and a group of nurses have become vocal about the working conditions. The nurses are from different units in the hospital, and they are upset about the nurse:patient ratio, the mandatory meetings they are required to attend and not get paid, the skipped meals because there was no one to watch their patients if they were to leave, and, the list goes on. Part of the group wants to look into pursuing this through legal channels. You are part of a group that believes that the Administration should be given an opportunity to correct the situation by negotiating with the nurses.
The problem is magnified by the conflict between the groups of nurses, and it is hard to show a unified front when the nurses are arguing with each other. You want to address the whole group of nurses, and you are trying to put together a speech that will unite the nurses.
Read the scenario above and answer the following questions:
What ideas do you have about a message to all the nurses?
What lessons about conflict have you learned that you can apply to this situation?
What direction will you decide to lead this group?
Sample Solution
Unifying Our Voices: A Message to All Nurses
My fellow nurses, colleagues, and friends, I see your frustration, your exhaustion, and your unwavering dedication. I hear your concerns about the patient ratios, the unpaid mandatory meetings, and the skipped meals. Every single one of you has valid reasons to be upset, and your experiences are not isolated incidents – they are shared realities across our units.
We're all here because we believe in providing the best possible care for our patients, and we know that starts with us. But right now, we're stretched thin, undervalued, and our well-being is being compromised. This isn't sustainable, and it's certainly not fair.
I understand that some of us are ready to explore legal avenues, and that's a powerful statement. Others, myself included, believe in giving our administration a chance to address these issues through direct negotiation. This difference in approach is understandable, but it's also creating a divide at a time when we need to be most united.
Imagine the strength of our collective voice if we stand together, arm-in-arm, presenting a unified front to the administration. Whether we choose to negotiate first or pursue legal action, a solid, cohesive group will always have more impact. When we argue amongst ourselves, we dilute our power and give the administration an easy out. They can dismiss our concerns as individual grievances rather than systemic problems.
Our patients rely on us, and now more than ever, we need to rely on each other. Let's channel our individual frustrations into a shared purpose. Let's agree on a path forward that maximizes our leverage and ensures our voices are heard, clearly and powerfully.
Lessons in Conflict Applied
One of the most crucial lessons I've learned about conflict is that unaddressed underlying issues will always resurface and often escalate. In our current situation, the overt conflict among nurses about how to address the problems (legal vs. negotiation) masks the deeper, shared frustration with the working conditions. My message aims to acknowledge and validate this shared frustration as the common ground, shifting focus away from the divisive tactics.
Another vital lesson is that a perceived threat, whether real or imagined, can drive irrational behavior and entrench positions. Some nurses might see negotiation as a "soft" approach that won't yield results, while others might view legal action as overly aggressive and potentially damaging to their careers. By emphasizing the shared goal of improved conditions and the increased power of a united front, I'm trying to reframe the situation so that the perceived threat isn't each other's preferred method, but rather the administration's inaction.