Professional Conflict in Athletic Training and Nursing Environments: A Commentary on Comparisons and Solutions

The athletic training and nursing professions have similar characteristics regarding workplace environment and challenges with interdependence. Professionals in both fields often face conflict with stakeholders while fulfilling their job responsibilities. Although sources and antecedents of conflict differ somewhat between the professions, the consequences of conflict are nearly identical. Job-related stress, depression and burnout, and interpersonal conflict can take a toll on clinicians’ mental and physical health. Greater efforts must be made to better prepare clinicians to diffuse and resolve conflict. Compared with athletic training, nursing has placed a greater emphasis on developing students’ conflict resolution skills in the professional curriculum. Therefore, athletic training educators and preceptors can learn from nursing education and adopt similar educational experiences for athletic training students. Providing students with tools early on can give them confidence to address conflict promptly and constructively, which may mitigate negative impacts of the conflict on patient care.