Teamwork and Communication in Healthcare

Teamwork and Communication is a very important part of everyday life. This is especially important for the healthcare field, where physicians, nurses, physician's assistants, physical therapists, respiratory therapists, and other coordinate with each other to take care of the patient.

However, there are many instances when there is no teamwork or communication between these team members which results in a negative outcome or been able to solve a problem when it comes up.

       In school we are taught about the importance of collaboration and communication as well as witness good and poor communication during our clinical. From all of this I have learned much about how to incorporate teamwork into my practice as well as promote communication among the other members of the treatment team. One thing is communicating what you interventions you are doing with the patient, for instance when giving a medication or performing a procedure it is important to double check with the orders and notify the other members of what you have done. This is important because at a hospital I had my clinical rotation at, the nurses told me of a time when a medication was given to a patient due to a nurse giving it for another nurse but she never double checked the MAR, resulting in administrating the wrong medication to the patient.

       As a future nurse soon entering into the workplace I plan to incorporate communication and collaboration into my profession. I will set a standard for myself and my team by encouraging open communication with each other. I do not have to be in charge of this team, but as both a patient and nurse advocate it is part of my responsibility to make sure there is communication among

the other members, including physicians, other nurses, assistants, aides, and even nursing and medical students. This is important in order to protect the patient but also protect the members of the team from getting injured or lose their license.