Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) Practice Exam

When both parties in a conflict actively seek solutions that satisfy both, this process is known as?

1. Collaboration

2. Compromise

3. Accommodation

4. Avoidance

The correct answer is: Collaboration

Collaboration is the process in which both parties in a conflict engage in open dialogue and work together to identify solutions that address the needs and concerns of each side. This approach emphasizes mutual respect, teamwork, and creativity in problem-solving, allowing parties to discover innovative solutions that fulfill both parties' interests rather than one side's needs at the expense of the other. In collaborative scenarios, participants focus on understanding each other's perspectives, fostering positive communication, and building relationships that enhance future interactions. This aligns perfectly with scenarios where the goal is not just to resolve the immediate issue but to strengthen the underlying relationship and sustain long-term cooperation. In contrast, compromise involves each party making concessions to reach a middle ground but may not fully satisfy either side; accommodation prioritizes one party's needs over the other's; and avoidance refers to steering clear of the conflict altogether, which does not address the underlying issues. Collaborative efforts lead to more sustainable and satisfactory outcomes than these other approaches.