The constant change in the health care delivery system requires nurses to be flexible in their roles. Flexibility is the key to success during periods of change. Professional nurses need to open themselves up to various ideas to arrive at a perspective of health care that enhances nursing practice. Fundamental to this concept is the ability to work in teams. Individuals can only learn some of the required practice today, so the group becomes the focus. The Institute of Medicine emphasizes that teams improve communication, participation, and effectiveness and include inter-professional teams as critical healthcare competencies.
Description of topic - Identifies and demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the topic. Thoroughly describes the topic.
Analysis and Evaluation of Issues / Problems - Presents an insightful and thorough analysis of all identified issues/problems. Rationales are supported by strong evidence.
Relevant and meaningful references. Use of at least 4-6 peer reviewed, evidence-based research references less than five years old. - Utilizes 4-6 peer reviewed, evidence based research references less than five years old. References are appropriate, relevant, and provide powerful connections about the topic and the concepts studied.
Description and Sophisticated Understanding of the Topic
The topic centers on the imperative for professional nursing flexibility, which is operationalized through interprofessional teamwork, aligning with the foundational competencies established by bodies like the Institute of Medicine (IOM). Interprofessional practice moves beyond mere multidisciplinary or unidisciplinary collaboration by mandating that professionals from different fields (e.g., nursing, medicine, pharmacy, social work) learn from, with, and about each other to improve collaboration and outcomes (IOM, 2011).
Necessity of IPTs: No single discipline can possess all the knowledge required to manage the complexity of modern chronic illness, advanced technologies, and diverse patient social needs. IPTs pool varied expertise, ensuring a holistic, comprehensive approach to patient problems (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010).
Nursing's Pivotal Role: Nursing, by nature of its constant patient presence and coordination role, is central to the success of IPTs. The nurse acts as the communication hub and integrator of care, ensuring continuity and shared understanding among all team members.
2. Analysis and Evaluation of Issues and Problems
While the necessity of IPTs is widely acknowledged, several issues and problems impede their optimal function, which must be addressed to enhance nursing practice:
A. Professional Siloing and Power Hierarchies
Issue: Traditional healthcare structures often create professional silos and reinforce rigid, power-based hierarchies, particularly between medicine and nursing (Reeves et al., 2017). This dynamic stifles open communication and undermines psychological safety, preventing nurses and other non-physician professionals from fully contributing their expertise.
Analysis and Rationale: Siloing leads to fragmented care and increases the risk of error. If a nurse feels unable to voice a concern regarding a treatment plan due to hierarchical fear, patient safety is immediately compromised. Strong evidence suggests that organizational culture, rather than individual competency, is the greatest barrier to effective teamwork (Rosen et al., 2018).
B. Lack of Standardized Training in Teamwork Competencies
Issue: Many healthcare educational programs still operate in isolation, failing to incorporate Interprofessional Education (IPE) that teaches shared competencies like conflict resolution, mutual respect, and shared decision-making.
Analysis and Rationale: Effective collaboration requires specific skills that must be taught. Simply putting professionals in a room together is insufficient. Research consistently shows that structured IPE reduces role confusion, improves attitudes toward other professions, and directly translates into better clinical outcomes by enhancing coordination (Bridges et al., 2019). The variability in teamwork skills across disciplines results in inefficient, time-consuming collaboration and burnout (Wei et al., 2020).