Building Bridges Through Conflict Resolution: ADR Students Share Essential Skills with Nursing Students

HLOs:

By: Janet Umukoro, Alternative Dispute Resolution student

In a unique cross-disciplinary initiative, students from the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) program partnered with the Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness to equip nursing students with essential conflict resolution skills. On January 15 and 20, ADR interns Janet Umukoro and Meha Chauhan led a series of three workshops titled "An Introduction to Conflict Management & Resolution" for students in the Bachelor of Science - Nursing - RPN to BScN program.

The workshops, coordinated by Luana Fanelli and Mary Lee, were made possible with the support of Professors Natasha Frank and Stefanie Santorsola, who integrated the sessions into their curriculum. Designed to provide nursing students with practical strategies for navigating conflict—both in their studies and future healthcare careers—the sessions emphasized the importance of understanding, managing, and resolving disputes effectively.

"It was insightful and inspiring for the students to gain further knowledge and understanding about the underpinnings of conflicts and how to mitigate them," said Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness Professor Stefanie Santorsola.

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Interactive Learning and Practical Takeaways

The workshops combined interactive activities, real-world case scenarios, and foundational conflict resolution theories, providing students with hands-on techniques for managing challenging situations.

To set the stage, students participated in an icebreaker exercise, brainstorming common metaphors for conflict—such as "conflict as a war," "conflict as a journey," and "conflict as an opportunity." This exercise encouraged participants to reflect on their perceptions of conflict and recognize both its constructive and destructive potential.

The sessions introduced two key conflict resolution frameworks:

• Christopher Moore’s Circle of Conflict, which helps identify the root causes of disputes.
• Thomas-Kilmann’s Conflict Management Styles, which categorizes conflict responses into five approaches—competitive, collaborative, accommodating, avoiding, and compromising.

A key component of the workshops was a case study exercise that explored the distinction between positions and interests using an iceberg metaphor. Students learned that the visible part of a conflict—what people say they want—often masks the deeper underlying needs and motivations that drive their stance.

Additionally, students were introduced to the conflict resolution principles outlined in "Getting to Yes" by Fisher and Ury, which advocates for:

1. Separating people from the problem.
2. Focusing on interests rather than positions.
3. Generating options for mutual gain.
4. Using objective criteria to guide resolutions.

These principles provided students with a structured approach to navigating conflicts more collaboratively and constructively.

The final exercise challenged students to line up in order of their birth months—without speaking. This activity underscored the importance of active listening, creative problem-solving, and non-verbal communication in resolving disputes.

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A Model for Future Collaboration

This partnership between the Conflict Resolution Centre and the Faculty of Health Sciences & Wellness demonstrated the power of cross-disciplinary learning. Nursing students walked away with valuable, real-world conflict resolution strategies, while ADR students had the opportunity to apply their expertise in a healthcare context—highlighting the broad applicability of conflict resolution skills.

"It was wonderful to see this idea and collaboration come to fruition. It's always inspiring when professionals from different fields come together to tackle challenges like conflict management, especially in a way that is meaningful for students," said Nursing & Personal Support Worker Professor Natasha Frank.

This initiative marks the beginning of what is expected to be a lasting collaboration, reinforcing the importance of interdisciplinary partnerships in higher education. By equipping future healthcare professionals with the tools to navigate conflict with empathy and respect, Humber Polytechnic is fostering a culture of effective communication and collaboration—critical skills in any professional field.

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