Question

Mrs. Hill, aged 68, was hospitalized after a stroke. The speech therapist recommended that oral feeding be stopped because of her dysplasia. During visiting hours, Mr. Hill fed his wife some noodles. The nurse noticed this and stopped Mr. Hill from feeding his wife, telling him it was the doctor's decision. An hour later, the nurse returned and found Mr. Hill feeding his wife again. The nurse tried to stop him again. Mr. Hill refused and claimed that the clinical staff was trying to starve his wife; he also threatened to get violent with the nurse. The nurse decided to walk away and documented the event in Mrs. Hill's chart. According to Thomas' Four Stages of Conflict, in which stage could the nurse have been more effective?

a. Frustration
b. Conceptualizing
c. Action
d. Outcomes

Answer 1

The nurse in this scenario could have been more effective during the Conceptualizing stage of Thomas' Four Stages of Conflict by addressing the concerns of Mr. Hill and explaining the medical reasons for not allowing oral feeding to his wife.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Thomas' Four Stages of Conflict, the nurse could have been more effective during the Conceptualizing stage. At this stage, the nurse should have recognized the different interests and values between Mr. Hill and the clinical staff. The nurse could have explained the reasons behind the doctor's decision to stop oral feeding and the risks associated with dysphagia after a stroke to Mr. Hill, perhaps suggesting alternative ways to support his wife that do not involve feeding. Proper communication and understanding at this early stage might have prevented the conflict from escalating to the Action or Outcomes stages, avoiding possible threats of violence and better safeguarding Mrs. Hill's health.