Interprofessional Collaboration

What are some of the primary focuses of the health care interprofessional team? (Select all that apply.)

Improving quality patient care, Providing patient centered care, Reducing mortality rates, Increasing professional experiences for health care workers, Collaborative problem solving Primary health care teams include, but are not limited to, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, therapists, social workers, case managers, and ancillary personnel. Primary care has expanded to meet the current demands of today's health care which focuses on improving the quality of patient care while reducing mortality rates, providing quality work climate, working to problem solve, and are involved in decision making regarding health care roles and responsibilities.

Which statements demonstrate the patient benefits derived from care provided by an interprofessional team? (Select all that apply.)

"The nurses all seem to really care about each of their patients.", "The physical therapist and my nurse worked together to schedule my therapy before my wife came to visit.", "We have been so pleased with the care my mother has been given while she recovered from her fall.", "My doctor, the nurse, the social worker, and the dietitian had a meeting with me today about my discharge plan." Successful interprofessional teams are aware of the patient's most current status, and who is doing what on the team. Effective and efficient communication of this information allows the team to treat the patient according to the latest information, improving care quality and cost-effectiveness. Being treated by an informed team increases patient satisfaction, as they feel they have lots of people working on their behalf and that each person truly cares. While important, the cleanliness of the patient rooms and other common areas of the facility are not the responsibility of the interprofessional health care team. The medication delivery situation described is an example of the function nursing care model.

Implementation problems are not common in multiprofessional teams because all health care workers typically like being part of a team.

FALSE Implementation problems are common in multidisciplinary teams such as those that occur in health care facilities; mutual respect is needed, and collaboration is not always easy to achieve because not all health care workers like working in teams.

What factors are considered when determining the appropriateness of implementing care via the interprofessional team? Select all that apply.

Skill of the attending staff, The complexity of the required patient care, The facility's yearly budget, The acuity level of the patient population The most appropriate organizational model to deliver patient care for each unit or organization depends on the skill and expertise of the staff, the availability of registered professional nurses, the economic resources of the organization, the acuity of the patients, and the complexity of the tasks to be completed. The physical location and design of the unit or facility is not usually a consideration since these factors have limited impact on the patient care delivery system best suited for patient care.

What is one challenge that the interprofessional team faces?

Role confusion Role confusion is a challenge that can affect the ability of the team to collaborate effectively. Many times, members do not have a clear definition of what their role is on the team, and this can lead to frustration, disorganization, and decreased productivity.

The role of the clinical nurse leader (CNL) is directly associated with the successful leadership of an interprofessional health care team. Which statements made by the CNL express the components of that role? (Select all that apply.)

"I'll share the patient's care outcomes with the physical therapist today.", "The unit nurses have talked with the family and identified a need for a social services consult.", "I've work with clients diagnosed with cardiac issues for nearly 15 years.", "We need to determine what, if any, safety issues exist related to this client's ability to ambulate independently." The CNL is a clinical expert leading the health care team. The CNL is expected to facilitate communication between team members, the client, and the client's family. Risk analysis and ensuring safe care delivery systems are also the responsibility of the CNL. The implementation of client-based interventions to facilitate the achievement of evidence-based practice outcomes is also a role assumed by the CNL. Nurse navigators help patients and families navigate the complex health-care system by providing information and support as they traverse their illness from diagnosis to final the final outcome of treatment.

A client who experienced a traumatic musculoskeletal injury to the right arm was transported to the local hospital's emergency department. The initial care was delivered by an interprofessional team. What specialized, patient-focused care should this form of care delivery provide this patient?

Effective communication between individual team members and with the patient will be a priority. This interprofessional team benefitted the patient by communicating with each other and the patient to avoid potential medical errors and to ensure effective care. The physician will not assume the management role; that is the responsibility of the team's nurse leader. Care is provided by the most appropriate team member. The role of a primary nurse is not one typically supported by the interprofessional team care model.

In an interprofessional team, the role of a nurse leader is elevated from caregiver to include which essential responsibilities? (Select all that apply.)

Implementing a team approach to care delivery., Supporting client autonomy related to care decisions., Assuring the effective transition from facility to home care., Assuring client and client family satisfaction., Integrating all aspects of client care. In an interprofessional team, the role of the nurse leader is transformed from someone who submissively follows direction (caregiver) to someone who helps conduct the bigger picture as both facilitator and participant (care integrator). The nurse leader is also responsible for implementing a team approach to care while assuring client and client family satisfaction. The nurse leader assures that the client is actively involved, to the degree they are capable, in the planning of their care for as long and wherever the care is delivered. When appropriate, the nurse leader includes technology to enhance and provide effective care.