Question

The day shift and evening shift on a postpartum unit is experiencing conflict about timing of patient education for families after childbirth. Each shift believes the other shift should be primarily responsible for completing the education. The day shift feels that the education would best be completed on the evening shift when other family members are present for the education. The evening shift feels that it is too chaotic when multiple family members are present and the mother cannot focus on the information. As chair of the unit's professional governance council, you have been asked to mediate the issue.

1. At this point in this scenario, what should you do?

2. Which kind of environment needs to be created to facilitate expressing conflict feelings?

3. What are the individual interests of each shift?

4. Who else can be involved to resolve this conflict?

Answer 1

1.Knowledge about disease or about a healthy life especially in postpartum period is known to a healthcare professionals but not to the new mother and their family. It is the responsibility and duty to impart this knowledge by all healthcare professionals to them to prevent unnecessary medical expenses. Encourage the staff to educate the clients whenever possible (during care,providing diet,etc.,)

2.An environment which is stress full due to heavy workload with a decreased number of staff,lack of team work  can easily facilitate to express conflict feelings among one another

3.The individual interest seems to be professionals paying full attention on the care rather than making the clients aware of the preventive measures for healthy life.This can lead to readmission of patients when they are not aware of how to take of themselves and the new born

4.The nurse in charge can be involved by assigning the staff's on daily basis to conduct education.Making arrangements so that the staff and the client party can attend the education program.The team can be asked for suggestions to resolve the conflicts