Leveraging Civic Education as a Strategic Approach in Managing Conflicts Among Health Workers in Zambia

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue XII, December 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Leveraging Civic Education as a Strategic Approach in Managing Conflicts Among Health Workers in Zambia 

  Matilda Mambwe, Viola Hamainza, Rachael Simwatachela, Kasonde Mundende, Francis Simui, & Gistered Muleya
University of Zambia

ABSTRACT:- The study sought to propose alternative strategies General Nursing Council (GNC) can use in managing conflict among health workers in Zambia. It was a descriptive qualitative design and data was generated using interview guides. Purposive sampling procedure was used to target thirty-eight (38) participants. The data generated was analyzed thematically and the main findings among others were that the General Nursing Council needed to be re-engineered if it were to attend to the needs of the nurses as well as managing the perceived conflicts within and among the groups in the profession; the study further revealed that there was need for the GNC to decentralize its operations across the country so that it can effectively manage the perceived conflicts associated with the nursing profession; the study further noted that peace and conflict related topics could be incorporated into the nurses curriculum in order to equip the researchers and practitioners in the field on the best ways and means of managing conflicts in the nursing profession as well as the health workers alike. The study therefore concludes that the health workers should be informed on the best practices of resolving conflicts that come in the line of their duty and that the GNC should come up with civic education programmes that will support the nurses and other health workers in managing conflicts in the places of work.

Keywords: Conflict Management, Civic Education, Alternative Strategies, General Nursing Council, Health workers

INTRODUCTION

Healthcare providers have different values and beliefs and when working together, their greatest challenge is conflict and conflict management. Thus, acknowledging that conflict is a constant issue in healthcare, professionals’ reaction to conflict has a great impact on quality patient care (Higazee, 2015).Health workers need to be equipped with conflict management skills because of the complexity of healthcare organizations and for them to effectively deliver the healthcare required.

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