Teamwork is a requirement of every healthcare facility. As a nurse, you’ll find yourself working with different people. That is because you’ll not get one but multiple cases to manage. Collaboration helps prepare a patient for treatment. Teamwork may also reduce the number of issues related to burnout in nurses. A doctor’s job is to make sense of what you did as a nurse. If you work together, the patient’s case is better understood. Teamwork doesn’t happen overnight. It would help if you built your trust with those you’ll work with. If you don’t do that, it won’t take much for you to mess up. As a nurse, no matter how self-reliant you are, the hospital system requires teamwork. The information you record and the care you provide will move ahead to other nurses. So here’s how you can improve the way you work with others:
- Work on Your Skills
As a nursing team, any skill you pick up will benefit your peers. It is also not unusual for nurses to study ahead of their current standing. If you’re a registered nurse or learned till a master’s, look for further qualifications. Online platforms are a great way to make sure you pick up the relevant knowledge. Fortunately, online education allows you to study with your current job. Therefore, you can opt for dnp online programs to prepare yourself for a leadership role. Not only will you be a specialist, but you can help your team take care of patients better.
- Get Better at Communication
Communication is an integral part of your job. It would help if you tried talking to the people you work with more. If you’re comfortable with your team, you’ll be more open with them. As a nurse, you can’t afford to mince your words. Everything you pick up while working with patients needs to get relayed ahead. You can also develop a system of communication with your team. It can ensure that you’re conveying information as accurately as possible.
- Be Transparent
You’re not competing with your teammates. They need to know everything that is happening. If you’re administering medicine before you hand over the patient, make sure your team knows. If you made a mistake, let them know instead of a cover-up. Transparency not only ensures that the patient is getting adequate care, but you’re doing your job correctly. It will help if you compare notes and data charts. Don’t hide information from each other. Transparency also includes if you feel that the patient care is lacking anyway, you should bring it up. If your peers think the same, you can push for better patient advocacy.
- Clarify Roles
Within a team, there are no hierarchy roles. However, everyone should have a purpose. It only makes sense to work with more than one person in a group, so everyone has a purpose. If you’re all doing the same job, the patient will get neglected. You need to fairly divide the workload and clarify what work you need to accomplish. Don’t repeat the task if you’re taking the patient’s vitals, changing the IV, or checking all the cannula. Your teammate can take on the responsibility of cleaning the patient. You can also switch roles with a different patient but make sure your teammates know. Keep a policy of transparency. If your teammate doesn’t understand what to do, explain. Don’t push them to do a task with no information.
- Be Adaptable
While you have defined roles, you should show some adaptation. If your teammate is struggling, don’t forget to support them. Demonstrating your skill doesn’t mean you’re undermining them. Your teammates need to know that you’re there for them. When you’re done checking on patients for the day, you should help your teammate. Try educating them on what they don’t follow and allow them to fit a patient the next time they check. The more you encourage them to be independent, the more they’ll get confident in their skills. It’s okay not knowing a skill right away.
- Do Regular Follow-Ups
Follow-ups are the process where you can reach out to your teammates and find out about your patients. There will be instances when your peer may get the night short while you get the day shift for the same patient. A follow-up will inform you and them in case the patient’s condition changes. If they got any medication through the night and what medicines you need to give. You also need to make sure all your teammates know the lab schedules and tests each patient needs to go through. If you receive lab results, you need to relay them ahead. If you notice an attending doctor, make sure your team knows what doctor you called. You’ll see many patients at a time, so make sure you know how to identify them and their results.
- Attend Workshops Together
As a nurse, you’ll need to go through mandatory training sessions. These come with the business of being a nurse. It is also a good idea to refresh your skills as you go through your career. If all your teammates attend the same sessions, then you’ll have the same skill upgrades. Not only will it reflect wonderfully over you, but it will also uphold your teammates to a higher standard. You may start getting more high-profile cases to deal with. It also helps to attend numerous workshops in case you are unavailable. The rest of the teammates can independently administer care. Not only does it save time, but it also makes sure that a patient’s life is not endangered. As a nurse, you should always know the urgency of providing care.
- Get Tech Savvy
You should incorporate technology in your work. In the 21st century having technology is a significant asset. It ensures that you’re staying on top of your tasks without neglecting your duties. You can download apps that allow you to share confidential documents with your teammates. So no matter what part of the hospital you’re working in, you are updated on all your info. Don’t downplay the importance of technology. The healthcare sector is slowly incorporating technology so should you. If you’re getting immediate healthcare outcomes, it will help your cause.
Final Words
In the nursing sector, you should get used to working in teams. That is because since there are numerous patients to check, they need proper attention. A nurse’s job is also quite hectic—the data and information you record needs to be as accurate as possible. So if you’re working in teams, you can fairly divide the work and check on all your patients. If you want the work environment to get as effective as possible, there are some measures you should apply. Start by making sure you’re on the same page as your teammates. Communicate with them as often, and don’t mince your words. Exercise transparency as much as possible. You need to work together, not against each other. The more you accept each other, you’ll do better in the healthcare sector.
