Abstract
Objective:
To identify the interpersonal conflicts among institutionalized elderly women from the perspective of the nursing team and describe the strategies adopted by the nursing staff in conflict situations.
Methods:
Qualitative and descriptive study conducted from March to July of 2015 with 15 nursing professionals from a long stay institution in the southern region of Brazil. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and submitted to Thematic Content Analysis.
Results:
Conflict situations were identified among the elderly women relative to appreciation of the other and disputes for personal objects and physical spaces. The strategies adopted by the nursing staff were divided into behaviors conducted by dialogue or based on authority and a punitive character.
Conclusion:
Understanding the dynamics and origins of different interpersonal conflicts among elderly women can enhance nursing staff's interventions with this population by reducing conflict in number and intensity.
Keywords:
Conflict (Psychology); Elderly; Institution of Long Permanence for Women; Nursing