Nurse Teamwork

Under the regulations of the California Nurse Practice Act, a Licensed Vocational Nurse has the ability to delegate tasks to unlicensed assisted personnel (UAP) according to individual facility policy. Delegation as stated in Hill & Howlett is defined as, “transferring the authority to perform nursing duties that are in the job description of the LVN charge nurse.” Prior to carrying out this important nursing duty, it is important for the LVN to recognize the difference between assigning tasks and delegating tasks. As explained in an article in the Journal of Nursing regulation titled; National Guidelines for Nursing Delegation. Assigning tasks would involve performing “routine care, activities, and procedures that are within the authorized scope or practice of the LVN or part of the routine functions of the UAP. Delegating tasks on the other hand is defined as “allowing a delegate to perform a specific nursing

I have scheduled an interview and time to observe a nurse leader with the Director of Nursing (DON) for the Virginian Nursing and Rehab facility in Fairfax, Virginia for Thursday October 2, 2014 at 7:30am. I plan on spending a full eight-hour shift with the nurse leader observing the following three leadership activities: 1) Observing her making rounds on the units 2) Observing and or participating in a nursing leadership meeting and 3) Observing the facility’s interdisciplinary team meeting.

Reason (2000) opines that the safeguards in the system are likened to slices of Swiss cheese and that the presence of holes in one piece does not invariably lead to a bad outcome but only when the holes in the other slices align to allow a trajectory which results in an unsatisfactory outcome. He further alluded that the breach in the barrier may result from both active and latent failures.

Interprofessional team collaboration for professional nurses is viewed as a method to improve the care and safety for patients. However, interprofessional team collaboration presents both advantages and challenges for nurses and other team members. One of the advantages is the coordination of care for the patient and the sharing of knowledge to improve the outcomes for the patient. Challenges for interprofessional team collaboration is: poor role-definition, miscommunication, conflict, lack of accountability for assignment of responsibilities and tasks (Reeves, 2012). This paper will discussion the role of a nurse on an interprofessional team and the challenges, why interprofessional teams promote patient safety, and strategies to promote success interprofessional teams.

Courtenay, Nancarrow, and Dawson (2013) reviewed numerous articles that studied the effect of teamwork education (communication, cooperation, etc.) on the time and outcome of care. Courtenay et al. (2013) found that effective teamwork decreased the time necessary for critical treatments or surgery and also reduced the number of errors made. Courtenay et al. (2013) write that teams performed well when the responsibilities and role of each team member was known. Courtenay et al. (2013) also state that good teams shared an overall sense of mutual responsibility of the outcome of the patient.

Interdisciplinary teams in nursing basically focus on results on the basis that the involved participants share the responsibility for achieving these outcomes. These teams comprise of members from different practices in the healthcare field who gather information to achieve consensus. Based on the required skills at a specific time, the leadership of these teams may be rotated among the associates or team members. In order for the interdisciplinary teams to function effectively in the nursing field, their leaders primarily facilitate instead of directing the collective work. Interdisciplinary teams function effectively through establishing clear goals, evaluating progress, plan ahead, clarify roles, share the leadership, and capitalize on individual talents (Wenckus, 2004).

Leadership by the team leader, who has responsibility for the team, is critical for team

After choosing to help my co-worker, to ensure that the client was kept clean and comfortable, I felt that this was my main priority in this situation. As an accountable Healthcare worker it sates within my code of conduct. That I have to make sure that I give care to all clients and treat every person as an individual, with dignity and respect at all times. However, I could still see, and understand why that staff nurse had to explain to me why I had to listen and take instruction.

What does it mean be a registered nurse? To some, it may be someone who goes and fetches a cup of water or a cup of coffee. Perhaps it is someone who just provides the patient with warm blanket and a pat on the head; or just maybe someone who delivers medications to the patients. A registered nurse (RN) may provide those services, but there is much more behind the scenes of planning that the patient may not realize. A RN is also responsible for the proper delegation of care to the patients under his/her care with the appropriate staff that is suited for such tasks. For example, a RN may delegate the CENA’s (Competency Evaluated Nurse Aides) to take vitals on a patient while the LPN/LVN

Two major forms of staffing guidelines will be discussed, nurse-to-patient ratio and staffing by acuity. This paper will discuss the history of each staffing form. It will point out the benefits and negative features of both practices, describe how hospitals deal with staffing and discuss the states that have laws requiring certain guidelines be followed.

Nurses improve and save lives every day, which makes them the front line members of the healthcare team. The professional integrity of the nursing profession must always be maintained. The American Nurses Association (ANA) is an organization that seeks to advance and protect the nursing profession. The Standards of Professional Performance set by the ANA, ensure that the highest level of nursing care is given to the public. It is important for a nursing student to uphold these professional standards while in the classroom and clinical setting, in order to provide quality nursing care later in their career.

Our nursing team provides individualized care during the scheduled visits and also provide support and valuable information to family members on how to care for their loved one. Members of our nursing team add that personal touch to professional services that make our care compassionate. RN Case Manager will be responsible for your overall care and managing your needs along with DON. Nurses visit the patient as often as necessary and coordinate delivery of medication and equipment to helping hands to patient and family.

Brandt continues to learn more about department issues during his rounds, meetings and also from patient input. He will need to ensure to collaborate with Charge Nurse consistently to unsure all aspects of operations are covered and reviewed. This important collaboration will improve his assessment on identifying root case of problems and improving options in problem solving.

Teamwork is vital in healthcare.  When all participants are engaged in a program, goals are successfully achieved. Being able to communicate and work collectively as a team requires an appreciation for each other’s area of practice.  Every team member has an important role and being acknowledged provides a sense of responsibility and accountability. Essentially, inter-professional collaboration helps ensure that the patient is getting care that is not only accessible but also comprehensive.  The plan of a patients’ care includes active participation by all health care professionals working interdependently in accordance to the patient’s preferences, values and beliefs. The health care team accomplishes the goal of meeting the patient’s medical needs by delivering evidence-based practice.   To deliver quality care, the patient should always be involved.

Nursing care delivery is defined as the way task allocation, responsibility, and authority are organized to achieve patient care. Tiedeman and Lookinland (2004) suggested that systems of nursing care delivery are a reflection of social values, management ideology, and economic considerations. (Tiedeman&Lookinland, 2004) According to Fewer (2006), the quality of nursing care delivery systems affects continuity of care, the relationship between nurse and patient, morale, nurse job satisfaction and educational preparation.(Fewer, 2006) Nurses are essential human resources to provide medical services with professional knowledge and skills in the healthcare setting. However, the registered nurse turnover rate has increased in recent years resulting