Our patients, their families, and our fellow healthcare workers depend on nurses to lead patients to their optimal health. The cornerstone of the nursing profession has always been patient advocacy. However, being a patient advocate is not always easy and requires incredible courage at times. Being assertive can be risky, but professionals put the welfare of their patients first and accept the consequences for their decisions. The very nature of our job can breed conflict, whether it is between co-workers, other departments, or patients and their families.
Integrity involves conflict resolution in a manner that brings about win-win solutions.
We, as nurses, need to take pride in each other and celebrate our victories. We need to support and nurture each other through the challenges. When we talk negatively about our colleagues, we are hurting the profession. Respect for each other's feelings and ideas is a basic principle of common decency. All too often though, respect is sacrificed in a high stress environment.