Leadership – Week 5 Replies to Discussion 1: Collaboration and Teamwork

Leadership – Week 5 Replies to Discussion 1: Collaboration and Teamwork
Instructions:
1. Reply to the following two classmates. In the reply posts, in a well-developed paragraph (300–350 words to each peer), provide 4 scholarly support (within 5 years) to provide alternative communication strategies.
2. The objective of the replies is to add other perspectives to the original post from an academic standpoint or to argue why you are agreeing to the post.
3. Use a friendly and professional approach.
4. This is not an English assignment, so do not comment on anything regarding grammar, delivery styles, coherence, etc.
5. Include references right after each discussion.
6. Include the name of your peer on top of the discussion.

Discussion # 1 by Marybeth Guay

During one of my nursing positions, I joined a Safe Patient Handling Committee. This multidisciplinary team included physical therapists, nurses, and patient care assistants. The mission of the group was to promote safe patient handling techniques on inpatient units to enhance patient and staff safety. We measured our success by reviewing the number of injuries experienced by patients and staff as a result of incorrect patient handling during our monthly meetings. Our goals were accomplished by educating and encouraging staff to utilize correct body mechanics and employ the electronic lift equipment available on the units. Monthly problem-solving meetings were held during which group members would participate in a discussion and contribute new ideas to achieve our committee goals. We would employ ideas decided upon by the group such as handing out “No Boost Zone” wall signs or pins for staff to put on their badges. This was a way for staff to express their support for using lift equipment as opposed to manual ‘boosting’ which can lead to back injuries. Each committee member acted as a unit champion for their floor and therefore was a source of information and motivation for staff who were unsure how or reluctant to adopt safe patient handling practices.
Group leaders promoted effective communication and interpersonal collaboration in many ways. First, they created a vision that effectively challenged us to improve staff and patient safety and therefore motivated us to partake in the mission (Northouse, 2018). The group leaders encouraged participation and innovation in our monthly meetings by asking every member to arrive with one new idea of how patient handling can be improved on their unit which would be respectfully discussed by the group. Each idea was thoughtfully considered without judgment. This created an open environment for nontalkers to share their ideas and improve collaboration (Huber, 2018). This also developed the norm of mutual respect and promoted active participation and group decision making which together embody the effective communication of transformational leadership (Huber, 2018). The group leader’s actions are also supported by a study by Broca & Ferreira (2018), which found that the underlying feelings of respect and trust were found to be necessary for achieving effective communication within a nursing team.
The diverse selection of committee members which included staff from various disciplines played a role in effective collaboration. Huber (2018) argues that a diverse group is vital to team innovation and leaders who embrace this concept are more able to bring about positive changes in healthcare. Therefore, by including nurses, physical therapists, and patient care assistants the group leaders allowed for fruitful collaboration and innovation. When monthly meetings were held, we would sit in a circular setting so that all members faced each other making it easier to interact. A study by Naccarella et al. (2019) found in an emergency department that a physical environment that provided visibility and connectedness promoted effective communication among team members. The team leaders of the Safe Patient Handling committee embraced this idea with their manipulation of the physical setting at meetings. Even these seemingly minor interventions enhanced teamwork within the committee and allowed us to successfully accomplish patient and staff safety goals in our organization. My experience on this committee will benefit me as I aim to enhance communication and collaboration among staff members as a future nurse practitioner.

References
Broca, P. V. & Ferreira, M. A. (2018). Nursing team communication in a medical ward. Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem, 71(3), 951–958. https://doi.org/10.1590/0034-7167-2017-0208
Huber, D. L. (2018). Leadership and nursing care management (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier Publishers, Inc.
Naccarella, L., Raggatt, M., & Redley, B. (2019). The influence of spatial design on team communication in hospital emergency departments. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 12(2), 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1177/1937586718800481
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (4th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.

Discussion # 2 by Michelle Boudreau

Collaboration and Teamwork
An effective group at the hospital I am currently employed at is the unit-based council. Each floor in the hospital utilizes this democratic style of shared governance. The members must be current employees of the unit. It is expected that staff from each shift be represented. The members are expected to serve in two-year increments so there is opportunity for others to join. The chair and co-chair are elected every two years or as needed. The mission of the committee is to improve the unit’s policies and practices through implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based research with a shared governance model while maintaining hospital standards. The goals of the group are to maximize patient centered care by utilizing evidenced based research. The council also strives to set and maintain high standards of staff nurses by evaluation and promotion of continued education. The chair and co-chair are the unit council leaders, they are responsible for hearing concerns of the staff nurses in order to organize the agenda prior to the meetings and keeping meetings on track. The clinical leader and nurse director attend these meetings to provide insight on the possibility and appropriateness of unit council plans, as well as to provide suggestions. The unit council leaders, chair and co-chair, promote effective communication by encouraging nurses from all shifts to become members and by hearing them out prior to meetings so their concerns may be addressed. The nurse leaders also allow for comments and suggestions after each meeting minute, as well as an open forum for discussion prior to the meetings end. By giving every member the opportunity to be heard and consider the ideas and opinions of all makes for excellent collaboration and a healthy environment for conflict discussion and resolution. The leaders then communicate their proposals and plans with the rest of the unit via email.
The University of Vermont Medical Center decided to incorporate a nursing professional governance program in which point of care nurses were able to collaborate in the decision-making process and the improvement of quality care at an organizational level through this shared governance model (Dragoon, Nadeau, Toolin, Gagne, & Fitzpatrick, 2019). Although these committees are higher than a unit level, they incorporate the same approach of involving the nursing staff in policy changes and allowing them to make suggestions for areas of improvement. These nurses were surveyed one year post the implementation of this nursing professional governance model in which they reported increased feelings of empowerment and job satisfaction. I feel this can relate to the unit-based council as it gives a voice to the nurses who are in constant and direct contact with the patients; who better to comment on patient care? I think it is important for their opinions to be heard as different nurses may have different viewpoints on proposed ideas. This collaborative method provides a more encompassing insight as nurses may come from various backgrounds, cultures, and even nurses from varying shifts may have different opinions on matters. Together and with the aid of nurse leaders, initiatives can be implemented to accomplish goals to improve of patient centered care and satisfaction.

References
Dragoon, N., B., R., O., Nadeau, M., B., R., C., Toolin, S., M., R., C., Gagne, M., M., R., & Fitzpatrick, K., D., R., A., N.-B., F. (2019). Nursing professional governance: Patient- and family- centered design. Nursing Management, 50(10), 15-19. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000579032.78599.b2
Huber, D. L. (2018). Leadership and nursing care management (6thed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier Publishers, Inc.
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Introduction to leadership: Concepts and practice (4th ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.