Team work is an integral part of any healthcare division. Isolated work is not possible when it comes to the nursing profession because of the, highly, interdependent nature of work. Continuity of care is only possible when there is an effective team which communicates effectively, shares responsibility, works with greater mutual understanding, and establishes collegial relationships.
In a healthcare setting, each task is done collaboratively setting aside individual benefits to save a life. A plethora of research has proven that teams that are trained and debriefed together have better patient outcomes.
A nursing team is a group of nurses with the necessary knowledge and skills who work together for the best clinical outcome. Nursing career is an ideal option for those who can set aside individual differences and work together to respect and save a life.
Within the nursing profession, teams are not only, highly, interdependent but also interdisciplinary which include doctors, paramedical staff and administrative help. The best outcome is achieved when there is a clear understanding of roles and responsibilities and effective communication among these team members.
A typical nursing team comprises of nurses of various clinical skills, unit managers, student nurses and nurse specialists who are involved in direct or indirect patient care. A team leader is a person who is a responsible decision maker, self motivated, one who encourages closed loop communication, is capable of resolving ethical and professional conflicts, delegates roles and responsibilities diligently, and most importantly adheres to commitments. A successful nursing team is built upon mutual trust, loyalty, effective communication, multitasking ability, and a commitment to quality care.
Virtual teams are nursing professionals that work together from distant and different sites such as within tele -nursing.
There are numerous factors owing to which a team might not perform at its optimum. A few of these factors are competency of members, emotional conflicts, personality differences, improperly delegated roles. Each member of the team ought to work cohesively and collaboratively to achieve excellence in patient care. The decision makers should understand the skills, knowledge, capabilities and expertise of each member and assign roles respectively. For example, a palliative care nurse may not perform at her best when assigned to a critical care unit.
Continuing education and reinforcement of ‘team work’ is crucial to keeping a positive morale within the team. Self reflection and open communication is an important tool to gain cohesiveness among team members in order to achieve the best clinical outcome, client safety, and their well being. The primary and central objective of a nursing team is to preserve & prolong patient life that supersedes each team member’s individual goals, differences, and tasks.
Disagreement, distress, burn out, personal differences, and emotional outbursts are part of life but when it comes to patient care, individual considerations are to be kept aside regardless of individual roles and responsibilities. Despite all the physical and emotional constraints of individual team members, patient well being, his recuperation & his healing are the goals of nursing.
The chief characteristics of a successful healthcare team are mutual understanding, trust, and paramount focus on a positive clinical outcome for the client. The benefits of teamwork in nursing include shared responsibilities, reduced workload, focused care, and constructive feedback which would all, ultimately, improve the patient’s well-being & reduce his hospital stay.
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