The nursing student or professional nurse would be well-served with participation on an interdisciplinary team. Such participation can lead to establishing leadership and a culture of safety that might not otherwise be established. Additionally, nurses who actively participate and who seek to establish a culture of safety are likely to be more respected and listened to throughout their careers.
Nursing
There are more than two methods that can be used to display leadership regarding an interdisciplinary team even if the person is not in a formal leadership position. One of the methods used can be to always present a positive attitude, even when faced with formidable events or challenges. Presenting a positive attitude at all times allows others to draw strength from your actions and to present positive attitudes that are positive as well.
Considering the fact that most nurses are faced with a very stressful nature and workplace environment it would make sense that anyone who presented a positive nature would naturally be looked upon as someone who could have leadership qualities. One recent report determined that nurses are often "fatigued from nursing work and used such terms as 'exhaustion', 'drained', being 'tired and cranky' and 'zombie like" (Huntington, Gilmour, Tuckett, Neville, Wilson, Turner, 2011, p. 1416) to describe their attitudes towards work and their cohorts. If such feelings are truly prevalent in the nursing community, then it would make sense that those individuals who present a positive nature would also be likely to be leaders as well.
Another method for asserting leadership capabilities when not in a formal leadership role is through the use of inclusion, especially when working with interdisciplinary teams or groups. By including all members of the group in the conversations and discussions, the group members will likely be inclined to view the person who is making the inclusive attempts as a person who is looking after everyone's best interests, not just his or her own. Oftentimes including individuals in group discussions brings about collaborative efforts that might not otherwise take place. This is true in both the workforce community as well as in the educational community in which it is taught.
A recent study found that there is strong support for collaborative leadership in schools; the study determined that "collaborative leadership can positively impact student learning,,,through building the school's capacity for academic improvement" (Hallingera, Heck 2010, p. 96). Along with helping students, collaborative leadership also translated into a stronger workplace as well.
C. A recent report found that there were a number of reasons why new (and experienced) nurses should participate in interdisciplinary groups or teams in the workplace. According to researchers who wrote the report participating in interdisciplinary teams oftentimes provides an increased accountability amongst participants and that when the teams are related to research the individuals involved often will discover that "the learning curve is steep" but that interdisciplinary groups will help in regards to the information and knowledge needed to succeed in the healthcare industry (especially regarding nursing).
Therefore, the two reasons most prevalent to the nursing community in regards to interdisciplinary team participation could be the knowledge gained (especially for those nurses new to the team) and the liability issues that can be addressed by participating with such teams.
D. According to the text the four most important items in establishing a culture of safety in a healthcare environment are to 1) actively set a positive tone when working with a team, 2) routinely use structured types of communication such as briefings and debriefings, 3) learn how to differentiate between system error and unsafe behaviors, and 4) be respectful to all your colleagues and patients.
Stressful situations and environments can often lead to poor decisions making and decisions by those who work most in that environment. A nurse who is respectful to his or her colleagues and patients is also a nurse who will be more professional. The text states that if you work in health care, you must be approachable, and that it's not just a matter of being nice for its own sake, it's about patient safety. If what the text states is true, then a respectful nurse will not only demand respect, that nurse will also be much more likely to have a stronger relationship with his/her patients and those patients will suffer less and have less opportunity for accidents or mishaps.
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