“When the interests or goals of two parties are at odds, this is referred to as a conflict of interest. When a nurse’s personal commercial, political, intellectual, or financial interests or the interests of the nurse’s family or friends get in the way of her professional obligations or the best interests of a client, that situation is known as a conflict of interest in nursing research”.
A conflict of interest that actually exists is one that has already happened or occurs at the moment. A possible conflict of interest is one that might arise later on.
When people believe that a nurse’s judgment may be influenced by a conflict of interest, this is known as a perceived conflict of interest in nursing research.
As a nurse, you may ultimately run into sticky circumstances that may be challenging to handle. Nursing professionals frequently face conflicts of interest, thus it is crucial to understand how to manage them.
We have given a few examples of conflicts of interest you could encounter while nursing and how to appropriately handle them since you are working in a professional setting with a variety of regulations, things can frequently get fairly complex.
Two competing interests collide when there is a conflict of interest. There must be a decision made, yet the individual making the decision has been persuaded to pick one option over another. When a decision becomes selfish, there is an ethical problem instead of looking out for the interests of the other, and the decision has a moral cost.
Types of Conflict of Interest in Nursing Research
The three primary categories of healthcare dispute are as follows:
Conflicts based on Task
When two healthcare experts disagree on a specific method, task-based conflict results. For instance, a new nurse puts an IV using a method that differs from what the hospital does. Conflicts that are task-based may be the easiest to resolve because there may only be one right solution.
Although during their education, nurses may acquire a variety of strategies, your organization and nurse management most likely have established procedures that they want all nurses to adhere to. You and your colleague can change your practice as necessary after consulting with your nurse manager to see which strategies they favor.
If there are several viable options, you and your coworker can talk about the various results of each. Sometimes you can benefit patients even more by partnering and combining your approaches.
Conflict based on Values
When two nurses hold disparate personal views, there will be conflict based on values. For instance, you hear a different nurse discussing personal beliefs that are in opposition to your own.
While contrasting opinions and ideals might lead to stress, the aim of conflict resolution should be to bring about a mutually beneficial change. Try to be sympathetic when speaking with a coworker whose ideals you do not share while keeping in mind your shared interests. To make the conversations fruitful, you can concentrate on the things you share, such as your patients and methods of providing treatment.
Interpersonal Conflicts
When two people’s personalities or communication methods are drastically different, interpersonal conflict results. The resolution of some of these disputes may be aided by strong interpersonal abilities including tolerance, adaptability, and teamwork.
Bullying of nurses can occur through interpersonal disagreements. It is typically beneficial in these situations for a mediator, such as a nurse manager or human resources representative, to assist in the resolution of the issue.
Examples of Conflicts of Interest in Nursing regarding patients
When the patient is your family member
The care of visiting family members is one of the major conflicts of interest for nurses. Depending on where you work, there may be different rules on how to handle family members, but in most cases, you will be free to decide whether or not to do so.
Some people could feel awkward administering care to family members in such a private situation, while others might feel more at ease taking control of their family member’s care. Talk this up with your manager to be sure you are taking the right precautions to avoid a conflict of interest.
When the patient is a Criminal
Then, despite the atrocities the suspected crimes committed, nurses and the medical personnel must provide for him. Such conflicts of interest for nurses will undoubtedly test your moral principles, but it is crucial that you place nurse ethics before your own judgment.
Care for your patients is your top priority as a nurse, regardless of who they are or what they have done. If you do have any unease when caring for a certain patient, make sure to discuss your concerns with a supervisor so you can come up with a solution that benefits everyone.
Recommendation to Avoid Conflict of Interest in Nursing Research
The advice that follows will help nurses as they learn about the effects that conflicts of interest might have on their own professional practice. Conflict of interest and its wide-ranging consequences must be understood by nurses. In order to address conflict of interest, nurses must participate in continuing education programs.
In ethics classes at all stages of nursing education, instructors must cover the topic of conflicts of interest. It is important for nurses to understand that they are not exempt from conflict of interest situations. They are just as susceptible to being swayed by commercial marketing strategies as other healthcare practitioners.
Conclusion
Most businesses can have conflict, but a fast-paced healthcare firm is particularly prone to it. A significant portion of your day as a healthcare worker is spent working and interacting with people in trying circumstances that can occasionally get tense.
There are suggestions made to assist nurses in avoiding conflicts of interest and maintaining their professional integrity. Nurses must be aware of the kinds of situations that could give rise to a conflict of interest for them and take the required precautions to prevent such ethical violations. Resolving conflict of interest is very important for a peaceful environment.
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