Interdisciplinary Team Conflicts Among Forensic Nurses and Rape Victim Advocates

Abstract

To address the acute needs of rape survivors, forensic nurses and victim advocates provide integrated holistic care. Research suggests that conflicts between nurses and advocates can be common, but the nature and causes of these conflicts are largely unknown. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, this study examined how and why an advocate–nurse team experiences conflict. The advocates reported experiences of subordination and disruption of their services, while nurses indicated that the advocates portrayed them negatively and distrusted their professional judgment. Role ambiguity contributed to these conflicts, whereas trust mitigated these conflicts but only existed among experienced nurses and advocates. The findings will be discussed from a feminist organizational lens.