Abstract
BACKGROUND: Conflicts at work are inevitable and can negatively affect an individual's mental health. This research was based on the theoretical sources of conflict at work, explored nurses' work situation conflict as well as their types, along with their causes and consequences. METHODS: This study used participatory observation and interview methods to study nurses. Participatory observations of nurses' work were conducted in hospitals, and interviews were conducted with nurses. Data were collected through participatory observation and interviews, and data were analyzed through grounded theory. RESULTS: Nurses' work situation conflicts included five levels of specific situational conflict types-interpersonal, social, unit, family, and task-as well as 12 conflict manifestations. Specifically, these types and manifestations include (1) interpersonal conflict, including conflicts with leaders, colleagues, and clients; (2) professional status conflict, including conflicts with professional recognition and professional respect; (3) conflict of interest, including conflicts with income, professional development, ideas and systems; (4) family role conflict, including family incident versus work conflicts; and (5) self-task conflict, including work requirement, work task, and work intensity conflicts. At the same time, it was found that the conflicts between different systems could be transformed into each other under certain conditions, and work situation conflict would affect the work efficiency, sense of value, professional enthusiasm, professional expectations, professional detachment, professional interest, and physical and mental exhaustion of nurses. CONCLUSION: This study found a hierarchical level model of nurses' work situation conflict. And this study has brought new insight to the management of conflicts in the current nurses' working situation and to creating a healthy, harmonious and efficient nursing working situation. It provides a new perspective for nurses' occupational safety and mental health intervention.