Nursing College Focuses on Conflict Engagement During Retreat

The University of Cincinnati College of Nursing ended 2015 with a college-wide retreat on Thursday, December 17 at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden. The retreat, "Commitment to Community: Fostering the Creative Potentials of Conflict Engagement,” was led by internationally known nurse scholar, author and speaker, Phyllis Beck Kritek, RN, PhD. Over 100 faculty and staff members were in attendance.

"Our vision is to lead the transformation of health care. In order to do that, it is critical that we continually increase our skills to address and engage in conflict to ultimately foster greater community,” says Greer Glazer, PhD, dean of the college. "Having someone of Dr. Kritek’s caliber provide us with tools in improving effective conflict engagement will allow us to propel these efforts."

The college, which currently enrolls nearly 3,000 students, is committed to serving as a leader in nursing education and health care. Kritek’s book Negotiating at an Uneven Table: Developing Moral Courage in Resolving Our Conflicts is used as a resource for addressing conflicts among individuals with uneven power bases. The retreat built on tools from her book and previous leadership experience, assisting individuals and groups in grappling with challenges and dilemmas. 

Attendees examined the exploration of generational differences, creative problem solving and the moral imperative of conflict engagement. The focus of conflict engagement aligned with the American Nurses Association’s (ANA) "Year of Ethics” and 2015 revisions to the ANA Code of Ethics for Nurses.

"We as nurses are obligated to provide our patients and communities with the best care,” says Glazer. "Furthering our ability to creatively problem solve at the convergence of diverse opinions, perspectives and insights will allow us to continue to innovate in both education and patient care.”