The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses, also known as QSEN, is a project initiated by the healthcare community to prepare nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are essential to provide constantly improving care in health care systems across the nation (Quality and Safety Edcation for Nurses Institute, 2014). One such set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes, also called a competency, is teamwork and collaboration. Teamwork and collaboration is defined by QSEN (2014) as “functioning effectively within nursing and inter-professional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making to achieve quality patient care” (Quality and Safety Edcation for Nurses Institute, 2014). A proponent of teamwork
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In a literature review on the topic conducted by Ritter (2011) for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the shortage of nurses has been a growing problem for an extended period of time, leaving the aging population without the nurses necessary for care (Ritter, 2011, p. 27-28). With this shortage present, it has also been studied that the retention rate of highly qualified nurses is directly correlated to the health of the work environment (Ritter, 2011, p. 30). Elements of a healthy work environment, as outlined in the article, include “collaborative practice culture, communication-rich culture, a culture of accountability, the presence of adequate numbers of qualified nurses, the presence of expert, competent, credible and visible leadership, shared decision-making at all levels, the encouragement of professional practice and continued growth/development, recognition of the value of nursing’s contribution, and recognition by nurses of the meaningful contribution to practice” (Ritter, 2011, p. …show more content…
Nurses must be able to recognize what constitutes an unhealthy work environment in order to correct the issues present and be able to provide quality care. For example, if a nurse is situated in an environment not conducive to maintaining professionalism, the nurse must tactfully address the issues. If a peer is not communicating effectively, the nurse could discuss improving communication techniques with them. If a new nurse requests assistance, the experienced nurses could lend their helping hand and use the situation as a teaching opportunity. Not only does this strengthen the professional community, but also, these methods ensure that patients are receiving the best and most positive care while hospitalized.
In conclusion, teamwork and collaboration is a major component of nursing practice and can be enabled through the establishment of a healthy work environment. A healthy work environment composed of open communication, collaborative practice, an adequate numbers of qualified nurses, and encouragement contributes ultimately to provide quality patient care and clinical excellence in healthcare settings. This is a concept that is not only generalized in the workplace of any profession, but one that each individual healthcare professional can utilize throughout his or her personal
In a literature review on the topic conducted by Ritter (2011) for the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the shortage of nurses has been a growing problem for an extended period of time, leaving the aging population without the nurses necessary for care (Ritter, 2011, p. 27-28). With this shortage present, it has also been studied that the retention rate of highly qualified nurses is directly correlated to the health of the work environment (Ritter, 2011, p. 30). Elements of a healthy work environment, as outlined in the article, include “collaborative practice culture, communication-rich culture, a culture of accountability, the presence of adequate numbers of qualified nurses, the presence of expert, competent, credible and visible leadership, shared decision-making at all levels, the encouragement of professional practice and continued growth/development, recognition of the value of nursing’s contribution, and recognition by nurses of the meaningful contribution to practice” (Ritter, 2011, p. …show more content…
Nurses must be able to recognize what constitutes an unhealthy work environment in order to correct the issues present and be able to provide quality care. For example, if a nurse is situated in an environment not conducive to maintaining professionalism, the nurse must tactfully address the issues. If a peer is not communicating effectively, the nurse could discuss improving communication techniques with them. If a new nurse requests assistance, the experienced nurses could lend their helping hand and use the situation as a teaching opportunity. Not only does this strengthen the professional community, but also, these methods ensure that patients are receiving the best and most positive care while hospitalized.
In conclusion, teamwork and collaboration is a major component of nursing practice and can be enabled through the establishment of a healthy work environment. A healthy work environment composed of open communication, collaborative practice, an adequate numbers of qualified nurses, and encouragement contributes ultimately to provide quality patient care and clinical excellence in healthcare settings. This is a concept that is not only generalized in the workplace of any profession, but one that each individual healthcare professional can utilize throughout his or her personal