Teamwork and Collaboration Essay
The article written by Andrea Walker, Randall Olson, and Suzanne Tytler (2013) is aimed at examining the collaboration between registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in Providence Health Care.Teamwork and Collaboration Essay
This medical institution helps patients who have the following health problems: 1) AIDS; 2) cardiopulmonary risks; 3) mental health problems; and 4) specialized needs related to aging (Walker et al., 2013, p. 25). This organization had to struggle with the shortage of medical professionals. Therefore, this institution had to implement a set of policies that could address this problem. First of all, one should speak about the role of “most responsible nurses” who had to care about a set of patients (Walker et al., 2013, p. p. 25).
These healthcare professionals had to carry out assessment and implement interventions. However, these individual could also consult other members of the healthcare team if it was necessary. Furthermore, the new approach implied that nurses had to work together if they needed to support a patient with complex needs. LPNs and RNs were asked to align their skills since in this way, they could effectively share workload and support patients.
Additionally, it is possible to speak about the existence of unit advisory groups which included both RNs and LPNs. The authors demonstrate that the partnership of nurses is critical for improving the quality of patient care. Their collaboration enables them to identify various needs of people who required medical assistance.
This article indicates that a team of healthcare professionals, who align their skills, can better share workload. Moreover, this goal cannot be affectively achieved by separate nurses. To a great extent, teamwork is important for implementing a holistic approach to medicine. Nurses should know how various biological, social, and psychological factors affect the experiences of patient.
By working together, nurses can identify these factors and mitigate their influence. This argument is relevant to such organizations as Providence Health Care in which patients can be affected by various health problems. Moreover, the findings of researchers suggest that collaborative approach can be of great use to organizations that struggle with staff shortages.Teamwork and Collaboration Essay
This article can be used to identify a set of behaviors that can promote collaboration among nurses. For instance, one can speak about the need to find a balance between unity and autonomy (Gardner, 2005). For instance, the authors show that unit advisory groups were relatively independent while designing and implementing patient care. However, at the same time, they could consult other healthcare professionals, especially their supervisors. Furthermore, researchers emphasize the need to conduct interdisciplinary forums (Gardner, 2005).
In turn, Andrea Walker et al. (2013) discuss the importance of aligning the skills of LPNs and RNs. Furthermore, they lay stress on the importance of regular discussions during which they can identify the most effective methods of patient care. Furthermore, scholars recognize the importance of conflict resolution techniques which are critical for cooperation (Gardner, 2005).Teamwork and Collaboration Essay
In their turn, Andrea Walker et al. (2005) speak about the so-called team sustainment sessions during which nurses can identify a shared vision and resolve their conflicts. Overall, this article can be useful for improving workplace interactions among nurses. However, the arguments of researchers cannot be generalized because their study was conducted only in one medical organization. This is the main limitation that should be considered by healthcare administrators who may review this article.
Reference List
Gardner, D. (2005). Ten Lessons in Collaboration. The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing, 10(1), 1-10.
Walker, A., Olson, R., & Tytler, S. (2013). Collaborative Nursing Practice: RNs and LPNs Working Together. Canadian Nurse, 109(6), 24-28.Teamwork and Collaboration Essay