Question 1
A charge nurse on a 30-bed medical-surgical unit observes two experienced nurses arguing loudly at the nurses' station about conflicting interpretations of a new wound care protocol. One nurse states, "This policy compromises patient safety," while the other insists, "We must follow administrative directives." The unit is currently at full capacity with high-acuity patients. What conflict management approach should the charge nurse employ?
▸ Why B is the answer
Mediation addresses the core issue (policy safety concerns) while maintaining professionalism. Option A ignores legitimate safety discussions and may escalate conflict. Option C inappropriately escalates to discipline without first attempting resolution, per conflict management principles. Option D delays addressing urgent safety implications, which is inappropriate given high-acuity patients. The charge nurse must balance policy adherence with staff expertise, using mediation to foster collaborative problem-solving. Guidelines emphasize leader-facilitated dialogue for practice disagreements to preserve team cohesion and patient safety.

