The Escalation of Opinions at the Hospital

Description

We are working in a hospital setting while working in a team with nurses, social workers, as well as a child youth worker. The conflict revolves around the care plan for a teenage boy (Adam) who has just left surgery. Post-op, the nursing staff (Juliana and Amina) want to keep him in a room for one night and then want to discharge him so that the bed can be free for future patients. The boy conveys to the collective care team (Zuhair (social work), Isabella (social work), and Olivea (Child and Youth Care ) that Adam has severe social anxiety and is worried about leaving the hospital with an Aircast and being made fun of at school. In addition to this, he’s worried he won’t be able to partake in his after-school soccer club. Right after the evaluation with the collective care team with Olivea (Child and Youth Care), Zuhair (Social Work) and Isabella (Social Work), they all seem to have concerns about the initially planned discharge date. The nurse's goal is to maximize the efficiency of the hospital to treat as many people as possible. Conflict arises when they have a difference of opinion. While understanding the concerns for Adam’s mental and physical well-being, the nursing staff also need to consider the ramifications if a patient requires the bed and it is unavailable. The collective care team, understanding these consequences, also emphasizes just how big of an impact an early discharge may have. The solution may look like the nursing staff agreeing to let the boy stay an extra day in the hospital. While he won’t leave without an air cast, the collective care team will help to transition him back into school and daily activities in a manner that is sensitive to his anxieties and fears.