What is the Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration in Nursing?

Nursing is a profession that prioritizes patient care. To ensure that patients receive the best possible health care, nurses need to communicate with professionals about their patient’s treatment plans and understand the roles of each team member. Nurses are a vital link between doctors, hospitals, and patients. This role is dependent on nursing teamwork and collaboration.

In its multi-professional patient safety curriculum guide, the World Health Organization (WHO) acknowledges the importance of teamwork and collaboration in nursing. Noting that modern health care is rarely staffed by just one doctor, WHO says that coordination and collaboration can help reduce the number of adverse events caused by communication errors or a lack of understanding of professional roles.

The Importance of Teamwork and Collaboration in Nursing

Both are important to patient safety and high-quality care. Collaboration is the result of joint efforts by different independent teams in health care. If a pregnant woman shows signs of heart problems, the cardiac surgery effective team may be called in to help with the maternity unit. The term teamwork describes the effort made by a group to achieve the best possible results. Teamwork and collaboration are essential to the health care system, whether it’s a small organization with a focused mission or a large facility with multiple departments.

Healthcare providers in leadership positions should adhere to the following principles of teamwork and collaboration.

1.Establish Team Goals

Some common healthcare objectives include reducing waste, improving effective patient care, and reducing response times in acute care settings A team goal gives each team member an aim to strive for, which creates team unity and allows feedback. Individuals on a team might have different goals in mind without clinical setting common goals in long-term care facilities. This can hinder progress. If, for example, the goal is to decrease patient wait times. Still, each person pursues a method that is different without talking to their team, and confusion is likely to result. As a result, the waiting period may be extended.

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2.Assign Roles Within a Team

The nurses interact with many healthcare professionals within and outside their departments. To achieve greater collaboration, it is crucial to understand the critical roles of each nursing team. Team members could duplicate their efforts in specific areas if roles need to be clearly defined. Not only is this a waste of time, but it could also harm patients. The working nurse states that the most efficient collaboration is interdisciplinary, where everyone brings their expertise to the team to provide the best nursing care to patients. Each member must know their roles and expectations to achieve the team’s goal.

3.Communication Open to All

Vocational nurses must be able to listen well because they interact with so many people, from patients to other practitioners. Active listening is an essential part of teamwork in healthcare. Wolters-Kluwer, a professional solutions provider, noted in a report that communication breakdowns can occur for various reasons, including when team members transfer to another department, when shift changes occur when information is not communicated correctly, and when patients change nurses. Health care team members who are acknowledged verbally for their contributions and achievements by the team are more likely than others to share their ideas and contribute to team efficiency and cohesion.

4.Respect Each Other

Respect for each other is essential in the health care setting, both within a team and across departments that collaborate. Team members who do not feel respected may become defensive, promote hidden agendas, show a lack of engagement, or worse. Mutual respect is built through a shared, focused goal. It also involves an appreciation of each person’s efforts and a recognition of their value.

5.Handle Conflict Proactively

Vocational nurses must accept that conflict will occur to achieve effective teamwork and collaboration. Nurses can help resolve disputes early by allowing open communication and listening carefully to healthcare team members. While there are many ways to handle conflict, such as accommodation, compromise, and competition, Nursing 2019 states that collaboration is the most effective. Most issues can be effectively resolved when all parties focus on the result, maintain respect, and listen openly.

6.Be an Effective Leader

Nursing is not an exception. Nurse practitioners with specialized training often assume leadership positions, taking responsibility for teamwork and effective collaboration. Leaders who are the best at adapting to changing circumstances can be based on team dynamics, direct patient care goals, and the health care organization’s needs. Leaders must be flexible and open to their team and other departments while maintaining respect.

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In the nursing profession, teamwork and collaboration are vital. Exploring an advanced degree can be a great way to use these skills to advance your career in nursing. Verve College offers licensed practical nurse programs near me (practical nursing programs) which help to enhance clinical skills. The licensed practical nursing schools (LPN schools) feature a nurse educator focus, emphasizing collaboration and teamwork skills in health care. Find out how these programs and prerequisite courses can help you become a nursing leader.