A staff nurse has experienced disagreements with one of the residents

QUESTION

A staff nurse has experienced disagreements with one of the residents about several client-related issues. The resident reacts to this conflict by belittling the nurse in front of colleagues.

In following the chain of command, the nurse discusses the situation with the nurse manager. Which best exemplifies how the nurse should describe this conflict to the nurse manager?

1. Competing role conflict
2. Instrumental conflict
3. Personal competency gap conflict
4. Nurse–doctor conflict

ANSWER:

Answer: 4

Rationale: A nurse–doctor conflict exists in this situation, as the resident is a doctor and it is this person with whom the nurse is in conflict. Competing role conflict is within one person; for example, a nursing student who needs to study but wants to have fun with her family. The instrumental conflict exists when a nurse would prefer to support a client emotionally by spending time listening to personal needs and feelings rather than by performing the physical tasks necessary in providing nursing care for clients. The personal competency gap conflict would occur when a person realizes she is missing a job-related skill.