NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2
NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2
Name
Capella university
NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations
Prof. Name
Date
Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification
This paper examines an interview conducted with a healthcare professional to identify an organizational issue requiring an interdisciplinary approach. The findings highlight the key challenges identified during the interview, the application of relevant change theories, leadership strategies, and collaborative approaches to address the identified problem.
Interview Summary
The interview was conducted with a charge nurse who has over five years of experience managing nursing staff, coordinating interdepartmental efforts, and overseeing patient care at St. Michael’s Medical Center, an acute care facility specializing in emergency medicine, surgery, and chronic disease management. The interview revealed significant communication delays between nursing staff and physicians, particularly during emergencies and patient handovers. Despite the introduction of a standardized handoff tool to mitigate these delays, its use remained inconsistent. Efforts to enhance communication through staff training and workshops showed only moderate success, with challenges in sustaining improvements over time. While the organization promotes a supportive culture, interdisciplinary collaboration often remains fragmented as healthcare professionals tend to operate independently within their areas of expertise. The interviewee emphasized the importance of a structured communication framework and engagement strategies in fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and improving patient outcomes.
A semi-structured interview approach was employed, using open-ended questions to encourage detailed responses (Slade & Sergent, 2023). Active listening techniques, including paraphrasing and clarifying responses, were utilized to validate the interviewee’s perspectives and encourage further discussion (Slade & Sergent, 2023). Additionally, contextual prompts were used to explore both successful and unsuccessful organizational strategies. The interview concluded with a summary to confirm accuracy and allow the interviewee to provide additional insights.
Issue Identification
One of the most critical issues identified was the breakdown in communication between nurses and physicians, especially during patient handovers and critical care situations. These communication breakdowns lead to delays in care, confusion, and increased patient safety risks. An interdisciplinary approach is essential to addressing these challenges effectively, as it fosters seamless communication and enhances care coordination (Simons et al., 2022).
Implementing standardized communication tools, such as structured handoff protocols, can mitigate these issues. Research shows that training healthcare professionals in teamwork and communication enhances collaboration and builds trust among staff members (Eva et al., 2024). Moreover, interdisciplinary collaboration fosters continuous feedback and innovation, which leads to sustainable improvements. Establishing a culture of mutual respect and teamwork can significantly improve communication, ensuring a cohesive healthcare environment that prioritizes patient safety and high-quality care delivery.
Change Theory and an Interdisciplinary Solution
Kurt Lewin’s Change Theory provides a structured approach to addressing communication challenges in healthcare. The model consists of three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing (Smith et al., 2022). During the unfreezing stage, communication gaps are identified, and awareness is raised about their impact on patient care. The changing stage involves implementing interdisciplinary interventions, such as structured communication frameworks (e.g., SBAR) and joint training sessions, to enhance teamwork. The refreezing phase focuses on reinforcing these new communication practices through continuous monitoring, feedback, and leadership support. Research supports the application of Lewin’s model in fostering sustainable organizational transformation through interdisciplinary collaboration (Smith et al., 2022).
Leadership Strategy and an Interdisciplinary Solution
Transformational leadership is an effective strategy for addressing communication challenges between nurses and physicians. This leadership style encourages innovation, professional development, and a shared commitment to organizational goals. Transformational leaders emphasize open communication, mentorship, and trust-building across departments, which enhances teamwork and information exchange (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021).
Leaders who model effective communication behaviors and encourage adherence to standardized handoff protocols can ensure long-term improvements. Continuous training initiatives and performance monitoring also help sustain these improvements. Research shows that transformational leadership fosters interdisciplinary collaboration, ultimately enhancing patient care outcomes (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021). By fostering a culture of teamwork and shared accountability, healthcare organizations can implement effective communication strategies that drive lasting improvements.
Collaboration Approach for Interdisciplinary Teams
The TeamSTEPPS framework is an evidence-based approach designed to improve communication and teamwork within healthcare settings. This model emphasizes clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals, which are essential for fostering collaboration between nurses and physicians (Hassan et al., 2024). TeamSTEPPS provides structured training, role clarification, and feedback mechanisms to address communication breakdowns, particularly during patient handovers. By adopting this framework, healthcare organizations can cultivate a culture of collaboration, where all team members understand their roles and responsibilities, leading to improved coordination and reduced medical errors (Hassan et al., 2024). Research confirms that TeamSTEPPS strengthens interdisciplinary collaboration and promotes patient safety.
Conclusion
Addressing communication breakdowns in healthcare requires an interdisciplinary approach. By integrating Lewin’s Change Theory, transformational leadership strategies, and evidence-based frameworks like TeamSTEPPS, healthcare organizations can foster a collaborative culture that improves communication, strengthens teamwork, and optimizes patient outcomes. These strategies contribute to sustainable organizational improvements, ensuring high-quality and safe patient care.
Table: Key Aspects of Interview and Interdisciplinary Solutions*
| Category | Findings and Solutions | Supporting Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Interview Summary | Communication delays during emergencies and patient handovers; inconsistent adherence to handoff tools. | Slade & Sergent (2023) |
| Issue Identification | Breakdown in nurse-physician communication leads to delays and safety risks. | Simons et al. (2022); Eva et al. (2024) |
| Change Theory | Lewin’s Change Theory: Unfreezing, Changing, Refreezing to improve communication. | Smith et al. (2022) |
| Leadership Strategy | Transformational leadership fosters collaboration, communication, and adherence to protocols. | Jankelová & Joniaková (2021) |
| Collaboration Approach | TeamSTEPPS framework promotes structured training, clear roles, and teamwork. | Hassan et al. (2024) |
References
Eva, T. P., Afroze, R., & Sarker, M. A. R. (2024). The impact of leadership, communication, and teamwork practices on employee trust in the workplace. Management Dynamics in the Knowledge Economy, 12(3), 241–261. https://doi.org/10.2478/mdke-2024-0015
Hassan, A. E., Mohammed, F. A., Zakaria, A. M., & Ibrahim, I. A. (2024). Evaluating the effect of TeamSTEPPS on teamwork perceptions and patient safety culture among newly graduated nurses. BMC Nursing, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-024-01850-y
Jankelová, N., & Joniaková, Z. (2021). Communication skills and transformational leadership style of first-line nurse managers in relation to job satisfaction of nurses and moderators of this relationship. Healthcare, 9(3), 346. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9030346
NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2
Simons, M., Goossensen, A., & Nies, H. (2022). Interventions fostering interdisciplinary and inter-organizational collaboration in health and social care: An integrative literature review. Journal of Interprofessional Education & Practice, 28(28), 100515. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2022.100515
Slade, S., & Sergent, S. R. (2023). Interview techniques. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526083/
Smith, T. G., Norasi, H., Herbst, K. M., Kendrick, M. L., Curry, T. B., Grantcharov, T. P., Palter, V. N., Hallbeck, M. S., & Cleary, S. P. (2022). Creating a practical transformational change management model for novel artificial intelligence-enabled technology implementation in the operating room. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 6(6), 584–596. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2022.09.004
