Assessment of the relationship between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among nurses

Abstract

Background: Clarifying the relationship between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among nurses contributes to improving ethical performance and reducing conflicts. This study aimed to determine the correlation between ethical reasoning and conflict management style among Iranian nurses.

Materials and methods: This study employed a descriptive-correlational design and was conducted on 196 employed nurses in clinical departments of hospitals in Yasuj City in 2022. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using the Nursing Ethical Dilemmas Test and the Conflict Management Style questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26.

Results: Nurses predominantly utilized a collaborative conflict management style. The mean and standard deviation of ethical reasoning among nurses were reported as 43.90 ± 8.51. There was a significant positive correlation (P value ≤0.001, r = 0.79) between ethical reasoning and the total score of conflict management styles. Ethical reasoning significantly predicted nurses' conflict management style (β =0.21, P < 0.01).

Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated that ethical reasoning predicts conflict management styles among nurses. It is recommended to utilize the findings of this study to enhance the managerial performance of nurses by promoting ethical reasoning and developing educational, research, and managerial guidelines. It is also suggested that the findings of this study be used to consider management and performance solutions to solve the gaps and ethical problems in clinical nurses.

Keywords: Ethical issues; management; nurses; practice; public health.