Nursing Profession - Report Example

Abstract Nursing profession plays an important role in overall provision of healthcare in the society. This profession incorporates teamwork so as to make day to day tasks to be accomplished in an effective and efficient way. Nurses also work in diverse healthcare teams in their every day patient care. (Lyon, 2002) There are various attributes that can lead to effective teamwork in nursing profession. They include interpersonal skills, commitment towards achievement of goals, interdependence and accountability. All these attributes have to be implemented in a clinical setting. They highly reflect the ANMC national competence standards. (Meister, 2004) This paper therefore identifies four attributes of effective teamwork. It further illustrates the strategies that can be used to implement the four attributes. It includes a time span that the strategies can be implemented and how the attributes and strategies reflect ANMC competency standards. (Lyon, 2005) There are various attributes of effective teamwork. It is usually very essential that all team members take these attributes into consideration. One of the attributes is that all the team members have to be committed towards achievement of goals and objectives. If all the nurses are committed towards giving the best service to patients, then they will carry out their individual responsibilities effectively. (Lyon, 2005) When team members are committed towards achievement of set goals, they will be motivated to ensure that their individual input is part and parcel of success. Team members will be very willing to handle challenges that come their way. Conflicts among team members will easily be solved because they desire to see goals and objectives being met. When all team members are committed towards success, they will help each other in their weaknesses. (Lyon, 2005) In order to achieve this attribute in the clinical setting, nurses have to put in place various strategies. Before a team or group is formed, members have to have one purpose. They have to have common characteristics. In this case nurses can invite other nurses who are committed to serve patients to join the team. One of the strategies is where the objectives of the nurses’ team have to be clearly laid out in the forming stage. (Meister, 2004) The purpose of forming the team has to be very clear to all the nurses within the clinical setting. This purpose may be to offer excellent services to patients within the health facility. The objectives and goals of the nurses have to be clearly written down. In order to enhance individual commitment towards achievement of goals, the nurses’ team leader in the clinical setting should give each member a role and responsibility to play towards achievement of goals. For instance, one nurse can be assigned the reception desk, another checking of weight and temperature of expectant mothers etc. The team leader should also motivate nurses on the need to effectively serve patients. With the right component of nurses who have the same purpose, clear goal setting and assignment of roles and responsibility, this attribute will be achieved. This should be implemented at the initial stages of forming the team until set goals are achieved. (Lyon, 2005) Another attribute involves team members having good interpersonal skills. In this case, every nurse is in a position to openly discuss issues with other team members. This may include challenges that he or she is facing in relation to accomplishing his role. It could also mean correcting other nurses or team members in ways that they may not be effectively implementing their role. (Lyon, 2002) Team members have to care for each other and even help each other accomplish their roles. This attribute plays a great role towards the success of any team. This is because this attribute encourages unity among team members and as team members open up; their challenges are solved by others. This aspect actually motivates all team members knowing that they have the support of the entire team. All this promote effectiveness and efficiency within the team leading to success. (Lyon, 2002) This attribute can easily be implemented in the clinical setting by the team leader. First of all the team leader should be an example in exercising interpersonal skills and it will flow to the rest of the nurses. This is through being open, honest and even giving support. It can also be implemented through training. The team leader can organise for nurses’ training in relation to the importance of interpersonal skills. When the nurses realize the importance of these skills, they will implement them. This can be done by a senior person in the healthcare facility. Nurses in clinical setting should therefore be courteous when handling patients and other staff. They should therefore avoid careless language that may hurt patients and their colleagues. This attribute is best implemented at early stage and incorporated throughout until set goals are met. (Lyon, 2002) The other attribute that can lead to effective teamwork is interdependence. This is an attribute that means ordinary people joining to accomplish extra-ordinary things. This is where team members craft an environment where they view each other as important in achieving such extra-ordinary things. (Meister, 2004) In such a case, overall accomplishments of the entire team surpass the sum of that which they could accomplish as individuals. This attribute enables team members to utilize positive aspects in every team member. Team members therefore encourage each other to learn, contribute and achieve. As they achieve and contribute, the group becomes successful since each member has effectively accomplished his or her part. (Lyon, 2002) This attribute can be implemented in clinical setting teamwork through the nurses’ team leader enhancing cohesion. All nurses should be trained or educated on the dangers of denigrating each others’ efforts. This also includes the dangers of working just as an individual without recognizing the in put of other team members. Nurses should therefore help patients according to their skills and experience. They should refer patients to more experienced nurses in cases that they cannot handle. This depicts interdependence. (Meister, 2004) The fourth attribute that can lead to effective teamwork is accountability and leadership. This is whereby team members are accountable to someone within the group in relation to accomplishment of the role assigned to him. This clearly indicates that all team members need to have a thorough knowledge of all the processes within the team. For any team to be successful it has to have a leader who is effective and leads by example. This enables a team to make succinct decisions and solve problems amicably and effectively. When all problems within a group are handled effectively and all members are accountable, then success is assured. (Meister, 2004) In order to implement this attribute in clinical setting, nurses within a clinical setting have to have a leader. Next, the nurses’ team leader should put in place proper communication networks. They may include telephone and internet and even availing oneself for face to face communication. It is very important for the nurses’ team leader in the clinical setting to educate other nurses concerning the importance of feedback. This is considering the fact that accountability involves communication. This includes who they are accountable to and how often feedback is required from them. It is very important this be implemented in the initial stages when the nurses’ team is being formed. (Lyon, 2002) The attribute of accountability and leadership highly reflects ANMC national competency standards. Under ANMC concept, a nurse is required to recognise the diversity in responsibility and accountability among nurses. This is in relation to enrolled, registered and healthcare workers that are unlicensed. (Meister, 2004) This concept stipulates that nurses have to clearly comprehend the need for supervision and delegation of roles and duties. This clearly explains that the attribute of accountability and leadership reflects the ANMC standards. Another ANMC competence standard is in relation to evaluation of progress within a specific group. In accountability, it means that the team leader has to analyse each member’s progress and give necessary corrections and directions. In ANMC there is evaluation of group interventions which are best handled through leadership and accountability. According to ANMC competence standards, any duty given to nurses has to be supervised. This includes adequate support being given in order for the task to be effectively accomplished. (Sharp, 2005) The attribute where team members are committed towards achievement of goals and objectives highly reflects ANMC standards. This is because ANMC standards require nurses to consult set guidelines and policies. On the other hand, this attribute requires team members to consult set objectives in order to succeed. Commitment to set goals within a tam is shown through members attending meetings and giving views concerning the overall progress. The ANMC also requires nurses to regularly attend meetings and get involved in review of practices. (Sharp, 2005) Interpersonal skill attribute also reflects the ANMC national competency standards. ANMC standards require that nurses coordinate so as health outcomes are achieved. A nurse is therefore required to demonstrate effective skills of communication so as to manage confrontations and any confusion. Interpersonal skills among team members require that individuals be open, trustworthy and honest. (Meister, 2004) ANMC requires nurses to know that their collaboration has effects on inclusive healthcare care provided to patients. ANMC standards necessitate nurses to have effective communication. In this case nurses integrate or use communication techniques that are effective. For team members to incorporate this attribute, training and development is required. (Meister, 2004) This relates to requirement of ANMC for nurses to participate in specialized development. According to ANMC national competence standards, this professional development improves nursing practice. This is the same way training on interpersonal skills for team members enhance overall effectiveness and achievement of goals within the team. (Sharp, 2005) Interdependence attribute is also based on ANMC competence standards. One aspect of these standards relates to nurses ensuring that they don’t impose their personal values to others. It also stipulates that nurses have to accept each other and even patients. They are required to respect individual people’s rights. Interdependence attribute highly relates to therapeutic and collaborative practice stipulated in ANMC standards. (Meister, 2004) In this case, in order for nurses to provide comprehensive healthcare, they have to collaborate with the healthcare team. They have to respect interdependent functions and roles of other healthcare staff or members. Nurses have to know when to refer patients to other healthcare staff. This clearly indicates a situation of interdependence attribute that leads to effective teamwork. (Sharp, 2005) In conclusion, there are attributes that can lead to effective teamwork. They include interdependence, interpersonal skills, leadership and accountability, commitment towards goal achievement among others. It is important that these attributes be implemented in clinical settings. The ANMC has put in place competence standards that have to be adhered to by all registered nurses. All these attributes highly reflect ANMC national competence standards. Read More