The tyranny of consensus: implications for nursing education.

The egalitarian appeal of decision making based on consensus has been valued as a strong alternative to other decision making approaches such as voting. In this paper, we identify some of the challenges inherent in this view, and suggest consideration of alternative decision making approaches needed at times to help nurse educators in their work with students and colleagues. As nurse educators, we have a responsibility to educate students about the meanings of consensus, to encourage open discussion about implicit values underlying behaviors, and help them appreciate the importance of dissent in a democratic society.