Theoretical Construction of Nurses’ Work Situation Conflict: A System Hierarchical Model

Aim: Conflicts at work are inevitable and can negatively affect an individual’s mental health. This research explored nurses’ work situation conflict. Design: This study used participatory observation and interview methods to study nurses. Methods: 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 conflicts—interpersonal, social, unit, family, and task—as well as 12 conflict elements. Specifically, these elements 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.