Original Articles
The Cumulative Influence of Conflict on Nursing Home Staff: A Computer Simulation Approach

Research in Gerontological Nursing  Vol. 3 No. 1 January 2010

By Kathleen Abrahamson, PhD, RN; James G. Anderson, PhD, FACMI; Marilyn M. Anderson, BA; J. Jill Suitor, PhD; Karl Pillemer, PhD

ABSTRACT

Nursing staff burnout is a significant challenge in the delivery of nursing home care. Using a representative sample of nursing staff working within the nursing home setting, our analysis addressed the influence of conflict with residents’ families on the burnout experience of staff. Through the use of computer simulation modeling we were able to assess the cumulative effects of conflict between staff and families. Findings indicated that conflict with the residents’ families increased both burnout and dissatisfaction among nursing staff. The burnout experience of nursing staff peaked with initial episodes of conflict, then leveled off as simulated conflict with family members continued. Because previous research has indicated that burnout tends to peak early in nurses’ career cycle, the finding that initial episodes of conflict have a strong influence on nursing staff burnout highlights the importance of interpersonal conflict within nursing homes in both individual and institutional outcomes.

AUTHORS

Dr. Abrahamson is Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky; Dr. Anderson is Professor of Medical Sociology and Health Communication, Dr. Suitor is Professor, Department of Sociology, Center for Aging and the Life Course, Purdue University, and Ms. Anderson is Consultant, Anderson Consulting, West Lafayette, Indiana; and Dr. Pillemer is Hazel E. Reed Professor of Human Development, Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.

The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity. This research was supported by an Edward R. Roybal Center grant from the National Institute on Aging (1P30AG022845). A preliminary version of this article was presented at the International Conference on Health Sciences Simulation in April 2008 and appears in the proceedings of that conference.

Address correspondence to Kathleen Abrahamson, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY 42101; e-mail: Kathleen.Abrahamson@wku.edu.

Received: June 10, 2008; Accepted March 17, 2009; Posted: August 31, 2009

doi:10.3928/19404921-20090731-06