Integrating Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) into Hospital Policy: A Framework for Nursing Service Managers in South Africa
Abstract
Thizwilondi Ananias Magadze
Conflict and disciplinary issues are inevitable within complex healthcare environments. In South Africa, nursing service managers (NSMs) play a central role in ensuring fair, timely, and constructive resolution of workplace disputes. Although formal disciplinary procedures are established in legislation, these processes are often adversarial, lengthy, and damaging to professional relationships. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) offers a more collaborative and restorative approach. This study explores the integration of ADR into hospital policy, focusing on its relevance, feasibility, and implications for nursing service management in South Africa. Using a mixed conceptual and practice-oriented analysis, this paper proposes a practical framework for NSMs to institutionalise mediation, negotiation, and restorative dialogue within disciplinary processes. The paper concludes that ADR can strengthen organisational cohesion, reduce litigation costs, and enhance nurse morale when properly embedded into hospital systems.