Chapter 23
A group of staff nurses is dissatisfied with the new ideas presented by the newly hired nurse manager. The staff wants to
keep their old procedures, and they resist the changes. Conflict arises from:
a. Group decision-making options.
b. Perceptions of incompatibility.
c. Increases in group cohesiveness.
d. Debates, negotiations, and compromises. - ANS -ANS: B
Conflict involves disagreement in values or beliefs within oneself or between people that causes harm or has the potential
to cause harm. Folger, Poole, and Stutman (2012) add that conflict results from the interaction of interdependent people
who perceive incompatibility and the potential for interference.
REF: Page 432
\A nurse educator is giving a workshop on conflict. During the sessions, he makes various statements regarding conflict.
All of the statements are true except:
a. Conflict can decrease creativity, thus acting as a deterrent for the development of new ideas.
b. Horizontal violence involves those with similar status but little power in the larger context.
c. Interprofessional collaboration reduces unresolved conflicts.
d. All conflicts involve some level of disagreement. - ANS -ANS: A
The opposite is true because research has shown that conflict, like change, increases creativity and allows for the
development of new ideas.
REF: Page 432 | Page 444 | Page 445
\A nursing instructor is teaching a class on conflict and conflict resolution. She relates to the class that conflict in an
organization is important, and that an optimal level of conflict will generate:
a. Creativity, a problem-solving atmosphere, a weak team spirit, and motivation of its workers.
b. Creativity, a staid atmosphere, a weak team spirit, and motivation of its workers.
, c. Creativity, a problem-solving atmosphere, a strong team spirit, and motivation for its workers.
d. A bureaucratic atmosphere, a strong team spirit, and motivation for its workers. - ANS -ANS: C
Differences in ideas, perceptions, and approaches, when managed well, can lead to creative solutions and deepened
human relationships. Work on conflict suggests that complete resolution of conflict is counterproductive to the
achievement of organizational goals, organizational change, and cohesiveness of employees.
REF: Page 432
\After using a mediator to resolve a conflict between the nurse manager and two staff nurses, the chief nursing officer
decides to:
a. Observe to make sure the conflict has been resolved.
b. Fire both staff nurses.
c. Reassign both staff nurses.
d. Reassign the nurse manager. - ANS -ANS: A
The nurse leader should follow up to determine if the conflict has been resolved because, in professional practice
environments, unresolved conflict among nurses is a significant issue that results in job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and
turnover, as well as in decreased patient satisfaction and poorer quality in patient care.
REF: Page 432 | Page 436
\Factors that influence the ease with which conflict is resolved include all except which of the following?
a. Level of interdependence of the parties
b. Interprofessional collaboration.
c. Expression of one's own needs and ideas.
d. Avoidance of the issue or concern. - ANS -ANS: D
Conflict involves a level of interdependence and is a condition for conflict but not necessarily for continuance of the
conflict. Expression of one's ideas and concerns is considered assertive and effective in resolving conflict if the concerns
and needs of the other are also considered. Interprofessional collaboration has been shown to be effective in resolving
conflict. Avoidance tends to prolong and sometimes escalate conflict.
REF: Page 432 | Page 436 | Page 438
A group of staff nurses is dissatisfied with the new ideas presented by the newly hired nurse manager. The staff wants to
keep their old procedures, and they resist the changes. Conflict arises from:
a. Group decision-making options.
b. Perceptions of incompatibility.
c. Increases in group cohesiveness.
d. Debates, negotiations, and compromises. - ANS -ANS: B
Conflict involves disagreement in values or beliefs within oneself or between people that causes harm or has the potential
to cause harm. Folger, Poole, and Stutman (2012) add that conflict results from the interaction of interdependent people
who perceive incompatibility and the potential for interference.
REF: Page 432
\A nurse educator is giving a workshop on conflict. During the sessions, he makes various statements regarding conflict.
All of the statements are true except:
a. Conflict can decrease creativity, thus acting as a deterrent for the development of new ideas.
b. Horizontal violence involves those with similar status but little power in the larger context.
c. Interprofessional collaboration reduces unresolved conflicts.
d. All conflicts involve some level of disagreement. - ANS -ANS: A
The opposite is true because research has shown that conflict, like change, increases creativity and allows for the
development of new ideas.
REF: Page 432 | Page 444 | Page 445
\A nursing instructor is teaching a class on conflict and conflict resolution. She relates to the class that conflict in an
organization is important, and that an optimal level of conflict will generate:
a. Creativity, a problem-solving atmosphere, a weak team spirit, and motivation of its workers.
b. Creativity, a staid atmosphere, a weak team spirit, and motivation of its workers.
, c. Creativity, a problem-solving atmosphere, a strong team spirit, and motivation for its workers.
d. A bureaucratic atmosphere, a strong team spirit, and motivation for its workers. - ANS -ANS: C
Differences in ideas, perceptions, and approaches, when managed well, can lead to creative solutions and deepened
human relationships. Work on conflict suggests that complete resolution of conflict is counterproductive to the
achievement of organizational goals, organizational change, and cohesiveness of employees.
REF: Page 432
\After using a mediator to resolve a conflict between the nurse manager and two staff nurses, the chief nursing officer
decides to:
a. Observe to make sure the conflict has been resolved.
b. Fire both staff nurses.
c. Reassign both staff nurses.
d. Reassign the nurse manager. - ANS -ANS: A
The nurse leader should follow up to determine if the conflict has been resolved because, in professional practice
environments, unresolved conflict among nurses is a significant issue that results in job dissatisfaction, absenteeism, and
turnover, as well as in decreased patient satisfaction and poorer quality in patient care.
REF: Page 432 | Page 436
\Factors that influence the ease with which conflict is resolved include all except which of the following?
a. Level of interdependence of the parties
b. Interprofessional collaboration.
c. Expression of one's own needs and ideas.
d. Avoidance of the issue or concern. - ANS -ANS: D
Conflict involves a level of interdependence and is a condition for conflict but not necessarily for continuance of the
conflict. Expression of one's ideas and concerns is considered assertive and effective in resolving conflict if the concerns
and needs of the other are also considered. Interprofessional collaboration has been shown to be effective in resolving
conflict. Avoidance tends to prolong and sometimes escalate conflict.
REF: Page 432 | Page 436 | Page 438
