Conflict Management in Nursing: Analyzing Styles, Strategies, and Influencing Factors: A Systematic Review.

Abstract

Objective: This systematic review aimed to identify the most prevalent conflict management styles and strategies employed by nurses in clinical settings and to examine the factors associated with their selection.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Databases searched included PUBMED, CINAHL, Medline, and ProQuest, focusing on articles published between 2014 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were primary data studies involving nurses, published in English. The search strategy utilized Boolean operators to combine keywords related to nursing, conflict management, and healthcare settings. A total of 174 articles were initially identified, with 22 meeting the inclusion criteria after screening. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Qualitative Assessment and Review Instrument Critical Appraisal Checklist. The results were synthesized using content analysis.

Results: The main findings from the 22 articles reviewed indicate that accommodation and collaboration/integration are the most common conflict management styles and strategies among nurses, with compromising also frequently employed. Factors such as age, experience, educational level, and workplace culture significantly influence the choice of conflict management strategies.

Discussion: Nurses employ a variety of conflict management strategies depending on the context, individual preferences, and situational factors. Effective conflict resolution is closely linked to collaboration and communication, with proactive strategies being more effective in preventing conflicts. The findings underscore the need for tailored conflict management training to enhance job satisfaction and work relations in nursing environments. We acknowledge several limitations that may affect the interpretation and generalizability of our findings such as the diversity of the tools and the methodologies used by the included studies.