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Teamwork in Healthcare

     Teamwork is an essential part of healthcare. There is no I in team when it comes to teamwork. The question is what makes a good team.  A team approach is imperative to ensure that patients reach their optimal level of health. Inter disciplinary teams build plans of care that are focused on treatment for better patient outcomes in a healthcare setting. A care team encompasses doctors, nurses, advanced practice nurses, patient care techs and radiology technicians. A care team is multi- focal in implementing and planning courses of treatment for patient. A team collaboratively creates individualized plans to ensure optimal results.

    Great teamwork starts with role definition and strong communication skills. Members of team need to know their role in the patient’s course of treatment. Working as an ICU nurse is a collaboration with physicians, lab techs, nurse practitioners and patient care techs to ensures that patient needs are met in a timely fashion. This collaboration is patient driven and task oriented.  It is imperative that any abnormal results are communicated to the ICU physician, to prevent a lapse in treatment. When critical results are communicated and documented medical issues can be treated with the proper resources to aid in better patient outcomes. Communication is critical when collaborating in an ICU care setting to support the needs of the care team and patients involved to produce great patient outcomes.

   Teamwork in a working healthcare environment creates a support network.  Support of team members builds a sense of unity in the working environment. When health workers unite on certain issues, more can be accomplished as team. With teamwork no one feels like they are isolated on an island by themselves. Teamwork in healthcare ensures safety of the patients and the healthcare professional treating them.  When teamwork is involved, you set certain patient practices such as rounding on patients hourly, turning patient to prevent pressure ulcer and reserving their skin integrity. Collaboration with the nurse and the patient care technician helps to alleviate caregiver stress when dealing with critically ill patients. Turn teams help to create a safe approach when repositioning patients, not only is this a safety measure for the patient, but it is also a safety mechanism to assist nurses and alleviate potential back injuries.

    Creating a positive team environment is critical in healthcare.  There should be a no judgement zone when it comes to communication and collaboration of care.  Each team member plays an important role in caring for the patient population.  Effective teamwork is to understand that every team member is equally important.  Every member of the team is a shining star.  Without teamwork, one person could not handle the stress of caring for critically ill patients. Since COVID hit, teamwork has been on full display. Every department had to bind together to ensure the safety of the community and patient population. Environmental services ensured the cleanliness of the hospital. Materials management is in charge maintaining proper personal protective equipment on the units. The direct patient care teams worked hand and hand to fight the ongoing pandemic within the community. As saying goes “teamwork makes the dream work”.

References:

Hamric, A.B., Hanson, C.M., Tracy, M.F., & O’ Grady, E.T. (2014). Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative Approach (5th ed.) Elsevier

Rosen, M. A., DiazGranados, D., Dietz, A. S., Benishek, L. E., Thompson, D., Pronovost, P. J., & Weaver, S. J. (2018). Teamwork in healthcare: Key discoveries enabling safer, high-quality care. The American psychologist, 73(4), 433–450.

Rosengarten L. (2019). Teamwork in nursing: essential elements for practice. Nursing management (Harrow, London, England : 1994), 26(4), 36–43.