Capella FPX 4005 Assessment 1

Leadership plays a key role in fostering a collaborative healthcare environment. As a nurse, I have seen firsthand how strong leadership can strengthen teamwork and improve patient outcomes. In this reflection, I will discuss my experience with interprofessional collaboration and compare the impact of both effective and ineffective leadership styles. 

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Experience

In a recent interprofessional project in the emergency department, I collaborated with a physician, respiratory therapist, and social worker to stabilize and discharge a patient with a COPD exacerbation. The interprofessional collaboration effectively provided timely care and discharge planning, but miscommunication regarding the patient’s home oxygen needs resulted in delayed setup. Looking back on this experience emphasized the importance of proper, collaborative documentation and defined roles within the team. Through reflective nursing practice, I identified my role in further assertively advocating follow-up coordination. Knowing myself in this manner enables me to more effectively deal with future interdisciplinary work through enhanced communication strategies, resulting in more cohesive teamwork and better patient outcomes.

Effective vs. Ineffective Leadership in Collaboration

Effective nursing leadership translates to effective communication, support, and the capacity to motivate and empower. For instance, a charge nurse who constantly checks in with staff provides guidance in times of high stress and provides opportunities for professional development gains trust and cohesiveness. Unsuccessful leadership, on the other hand, amounts to noncommunication, nonsupport, or micromanaging and breeds low morale and errors. I have witnessed a supervisor overlook team input in shift huddles, which resulted in confusion and omitted care priorities (Lalani et al., 2021). This analogy will assist in demonstrating how leadership style has a direct effect on team performance and patient safety within clinical environments.

Best-Practice Leadership Strategies

Best practices for leadership to enhance interdisciplinary teamwork performance involve ensuring open communication concerning all perspectives. Leadership through supporting team members in shared decision-making improves teamwork and accountability (Karimi et al., 2023). Regular team meetings for feedback and reflection ensure continued improvement and congruence with goals. Finally, mentorship and professional development enhance team cohesiveness and individual development, enhancing overall performance (Lalani et al., 2021).

Best-Practice Interdisciplinary Collaboration Strategies

Best-practice practices for optimal multidisciplinary work involve specifying clear roles and responsibilities so that others’ contributions and scope are evident. Mutual respect and trust enable honest communication and less conflict (Wubben et al., 2021). Regular team meetings during discussion and feedback ensure continuity of learning and goal consistency. Through using standard documentation tools, there is no doubt that everyone is in sync, enhancing transparency and accountability. Lastly, having clear, quantifiable goals for the team to work towards ensures focus and monitoring of improvement (Zajac et al., 2021).

Developing Leadership Style

To enhance best-practice practices, the best way to develop is a transformational leadership style. This style revolves around inspiring and motivating subordinates, creating a shared vision, and fostering collaboration. While cultivating this style, one can practice active listening in team meetings, foster creative thinking, and offer empowering feedback. Furthermore, mentoring by seasoned leaders and leadership development can add even more to the capacity to lead with empathy, vision, and team development orientation (Karimi et al., 2023).

Conclusion

Effective leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration are crucial for optimal patient care. Reflective practice helps improve communication, role clarity, and team dynamics. By developing transformational leadership and fostering mutual respect, teams can achieve better outcomes and continuously improve.

References 

Karimi, S., Malek, F. A., Farani, A. Y., & Liobikienė, G. (2023). The role of transformational leadership in developing innovative work behaviors: The mediating role of employees’ psychological capital. Sustainability, 15(2), 1267. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021267 

Lalani, K., Crawford, J., & Butler-Henderson, K. (2021). Academic leadership during COVID-19 in higher education: Technology adoption and adaptation for online learning during a pandemic. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 28(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603124.2021.1988716 

Wubben, N., Boogaard, M., Hoeven, J., & Zegers, M. (2021). Shared decision-making in the ICU from the perspective of physicians, nurses, and patients: A qualitative interview study. British Medical Journal Open, 11(8), e050134. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050134 

Zajac, S., Woods, A., Tannenbaum, S., Salas, E., & Holladay, C. L. (2021). Overcoming challenges to teamwork in healthcare: A team effectiveness framework and evidence-based guidance. Frontiers in Communication, 6(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.606445