Title: Discussion Board: Group Conflict
Course: PRN 0091 Practical Nursing I > Section: Communication

In a well-constructed initial response utilizing the knowledge you gained from the initial readings as well as your own experiences, discuss the following question:

Group Conflict
Using the communication and group conflict resolution skills you have learned from this program up to this time and your clinical experiences discuss how you would manage this situation if you were the team leader or Joan or Frank. Please specify who you are responding as.

Scenario for Discussion Board

Conflict in Nursing: A Hypothetical Case
Joan Smith, LPN and Frank Wilson, LPN, are colleagues in a med/surg unit at a major hospital. While Joan has worked on this unit for the past 10 years, Frank is new to the facility and often needs to ask Joan for help. Whenever Frank asks a question, Joan snaps at him and says she is too busy with her own patients to help him. Joan seems oblivious to Frank's need for guidance and criticizes him in front of doctors, patients and their families.
Because he is new and she is so unapproachable, Frank is concerned about talking with Joan about her behavior. Instead, he dreads asking questions and sometimes just guesses what to do. Frank has recently been out sick a few times due to the stress. He is thinking about quitting and looking for a new job. Other unit staff share Frank's feelings of dissatisfaction and are resentful of Joan's unwillingness to mentor new staff. Conversations during break frequently focus on job opportunities listed in the newspaper. Over the past 3 years, seven nurses have either quit or transferred to other areas of the hospital.

Please post your response on the Module 1 Discussion Forum. In addition to your initial response, please reply to at least two of your peers as well.