Student Name
Capella University
NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations
Prof. Name
Date
Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification
This paper presents a synthesis of an interview conducted with a healthcare professional to identify an organizational challenge that could benefit from an interdisciplinary approach to resolution. The report integrates insights from the interview, change theories, leadership strategies, and collaborative methods aimed at addressing the identified issue.
Interview Summary
The interview was conducted with a charge nurse at St. Michael’s Medical Center, an acute care facility specializing in emergency medicine, surgery, and chronic disease management. With over five years of experience in supervising nursing staff, coordinating patient care, and liaising between departments, the nurse provided valuable insights into communication delays between nursing staff and physicians, especially during emergencies. These communication delays were primarily observed during patient handovers and critical care interventions.
Previous efforts to address these delays, such as implementing a standardized handoff tool, showed inconsistent adherence among staff. Additionally, communication workshops and staff training sessions were introduced but sustained improvements were difficult to achieve. Despite the organization’s supportive culture, staff often operate independently within their specific disciplines, leading to fragmented care. The interviewee highlighted the need for improved interdisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing that better communication frameworks and engagement strategies are essential to enhance teamwork and patient outcomes.
NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2
The interview was structured with open-ended questions, allowing for rich, comprehensive responses that facilitated an organic flow of conversation (Slade & Sergent, 2023). This semi-structured interview design permitted exploration of emerging topics, with paraphrasing and clarification techniques used to verify understanding and encourage further elaboration of key points (Slade & Sergent, 2023). Contextual prompts helped uncover both successful and unsuccessful strategies, providing a deeper understanding of organizational culture and communication barriers. The interview concluded with a summary to ensure accuracy and give the interviewee an opportunity to add further insights.
Issue Identification
The main issue identified in the interview was the communication breakdown between nurses and physicians during patient handovers and critical care situations. These communication failures often result in delays in care, confusion, and increased patient safety risks. An evidence-based, interdisciplinary approach is crucial in addressing this problem, as it fosters collaboration among healthcare professionals, encourages shared responsibility for improving communication, and ultimately enhances healthcare coordination and patient outcomes (Simons et al., 2022).
The adoption of a multidisciplinary team approach would help standardize communication practices, such as implementing structured handoff protocols. Research supports the importance of staff training in teamwork to enhance communication and build trust (Eva et al., 2024). Additionally, interdisciplinary collaboration allows for continuous feedback and innovation, promoting sustainable improvements in the communication process. By nurturing a culture of mutual respect, teams can foster a more cohesive and communicative environment that supports the delivery of high-quality, safe care.
Change Theory and an Interdisciplinary Solution
Kurt Lewin’s change theory is a widely recognized framework in healthcare for guiding organizational change. The theory comprises three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing (Smith et al., 2022). This model is applicable to addressing communication challenges in healthcare settings. The “unfreezing” stage involves recognizing the communication gaps and raising awareness of their impact on patient care.
The “changing” phase includes implementing interdisciplinary solutions, such as structured communication tools (e.g., SBAR) and joint training sessions. The “refreezing” phase reinforces these new communication practices through continuous monitoring, feedback, and leadership support. Peer-reviewed literature affirms the effectiveness of Lewin’s model in facilitating change and providing evidence-based strategies for applying interdisciplinary collaboration in healthcare (Smith et al., 2022).
Leadership Strategy and an Interdisciplinary Solution
Transformational leadership is a highly effective strategy for addressing communication breakdowns between nurses and physicians. This leadership style empowers team members to collaborate toward achieving shared goals through innovation and growth. Transformational leaders foster open communication, mentorship, and trust-building across departments, which are vital for encouraging teamwork and facilitating information exchange (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021).
By modeling desired behaviors and establishing standardized protocols, such as handoff tools, transformational leaders can ensure consistent practice across teams. Leaders also provide ongoing training and support to maintain progress. Evidence supports that transformational leadership enhances interdisciplinary collaboration and improves patient outcomes (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021). The findings from the literature underscore the importance of adopting leadership strategies that promote meaningful and sustainable changes within healthcare organizations.
Collaboration Approach for Interdisciplinary Teams
The TeamSTEPPS framework is a crucial model for enhancing team communication and performance in healthcare. This evidence-based approach fosters collaboration between nurses and physicians (Hassan et al., 2024) by emphasizing clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals.
The framework introduces structures such as team training, role clarification, and feedback mechanisms, all of which are essential for overcoming communication barriers during patient handovers. By implementing TeamSTEPPS, healthcare organizations can create a collaborative culture in which all team members understand their roles, leading to improved coordination and fewer errors (Hassan et al., 2024). The strong evidence supporting TeamSTEPPS underscores its effectiveness in improving interdisciplinary collaboration and patient outcomes, making it an invaluable tool for addressing communication challenges.
Conclusion
This assessment highlights the importance of resolving communication breakdowns through interdisciplinary collaboration. By employing Lewin’s Change Theory, transformational leadership strategies, and evidence-based models like TeamSTEPPS, healthcare organizations can create a unified, collaborative environment. This approach will improve communication, foster teamwork, and enhance patient outcomes, while also supporting long-term organizational improvements.
Table: Interdisciplinary Solutions and Strategies
| Strategy/Approach | Description | Evidence & References |
|---|---|---|
| Change Theory | Lewin’s three-phase model: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing to address communication gaps and implement new practices. | Smith et al., 2022 |
| Leadership Strategy | Transformational leadership fosters innovation, teamwork, and trust among staff to ensure consistent communication practices. | Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021 |
| Collaboration Framework | TeamSTEPPS framework promotes clear communication, role clarity, and feedback, enhancing collaboration between nurses and physicians. | 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
NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2
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
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