Conflict between Operating Nurse and the Surgeon

The nurse firmly requested the surgeon to get out of the operating room for scrubbing. The surgeon was infuriated that a junior female nurse dared to order him around. The two parties exchanged unpleasant words for a moment and the surgeon ordered that the nurse be changed and threatened to terminate her employment. The other team members did not question the surgeon’s behavior for fear of losing their job. The operating room incidence was a culmination of poor interactions between the surgeon and the nurses. 

Studies have shown that conflicts emanate from gaps in education, training, preparation, competency, gender, miscommunication, misunderstanding, incompatibility and socioeconomic issues. The nurses’ desire to advance their career and undertake greater responsibilities also contribute to conflicts with physicians.