NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 1 Collaboration and Leadership Reflection

NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 1

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Prof. Name

Date

Collaboration and Leadership Reflection

Transformational leadership plays a vital role in fostering a collaborative healthcare environment. As a nurse, I have observed how effective leadership enhances teamwork and improves patient outcomes. This reflection will analyze an interprofessional collaboration experience and compare the impact of effective and ineffective leadership styles. Additionally, it will explore best-practice strategies for leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Experience

In my clinical practice, I participated in an interdisciplinary team focused on reducing medication errors and improving patient safety. Our primary objective was to establish a structured communication process between nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. However, we encountered challenges in ensuring accurate medication reconciliation due to inconsistencies in Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation.

To address these issues, nurses initiated team huddles at the beginning of each shift to discuss medication orders. A shared documentation process was developed to ensure real-time updates in the EHR. These initiatives fostered interprofessional respect, open communication, and a sense of shared responsibility. However, some team members resisted change, particularly those accustomed to traditional workflows. Delays in updating medication orders caused frustration among nursing staff. Implementing a structured change management approach with clear role definitions and additional training on the new documentation process would have mitigated these challenges.

Effective vs. Ineffective Leadership in Collaboration

Leadership plays a crucial role in guiding interdisciplinary teams and promoting collaboration. During this experience, I observed two contrasting leadership styles: transformational and transactional. Transformational leadership was highly effective in fostering a culture of collaboration by encouraging open dialogue and focusing on long-term improvements (Mekonnen & Bayissa, 2023). Leaders who embraced this approach facilitated shared decision-making, ensuring that all team members actively contributed to patient care.

Conversely, transactional leadership was less effective, as it focused primarily on short-term problem-solving and rigid hierarchies (Mekonnen & Bayissa, 2023). This leadership style often resulted in punitive measures rather than empowerment, leading to resistance among staff members. The transformational leadership approach promoted team engagement and a willingness to adopt new strategies, whereas the transactional style contributed to frustration and limited collaboration.

Best-Practice Leadership Strategies

To enhance interdisciplinary teamwork, transformational leadership should be integrated through the following strategies:

Best-Practice Leadership Strategies	Description	Supporting Evidence
Encouraging a Shared Vision	Leaders who communicate a shared vision promote engagement and collaboration among healthcare teams.	Liu et al. (2022)
Continuous Professional Development	Mentorship programs and leadership training improve nurses’ ability to take initiative in team-based care.	Shen & Tucker (2024)
Change Management Skills	Leadership training focused on conflict resolution and team motivation enhances leadership effectiveness.	Shen & Tucker (2024)

Best-Practice Interdisciplinary Collaboration Strategies

Evidence-based strategies should be implemented to improve interdisciplinary collaboration. The following strategies have proven effective:

Best-Practice Interdisciplinary Collaboration Strategies	Description	Supporting Evidence
Structured Communication Tools	Implementing SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) standardizes communication and reduces errors.	Samardzic et al. (2020)
Interdisciplinary Rounds	Regular team meetings ensure care plan alignment and foster mutual understanding.	Samardzic et al. (2020)
Technology-Driven Collaboration	Integrated EHR systems enhance real-time data sharing and minimize discrepancies.	Calduch et al. (2021)

Developing Leadership Style

To further support transformational leadership strategies, it is essential to enhance change management skills. Participation in leadership training programs focused on conflict resolution and team motivation can strengthen leadership effectiveness (Shen & Tucker, 2024). Additionally, engaging in mentorship opportunities as both a mentor and mentee can refine leadership skills. Advocating for team-based decision-making ensures that all voices are heard in patient care discussions, fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my interdisciplinary collaboration experience has reinforced the importance of transformational leadership in healthcare. By inspiring and empowering team members, nurses can drive meaningful change and improve patient outcomes. Developing leadership skills will allow for more effective contributions to patient-centered care and strengthen interprofessional collaboration.

References

Calduch, E., Muscat, N., Krishnamurthy, R. S., & Ortiz, D. (2021). Technological progress in electronic health record system optimization: Systematic review of systematic literature reviews. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 152(1), 104507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104507

Liu, M., Zhang, P., Zhu, Y., & Li, Y. (2022). How and when does visionary leadership promote followers’ taking charge? The roles of inclusion of leader in self and future orientation. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15(2), 1917–1929. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S366939

Mekonnen, M., & Bayissa, Z. (2023). The effect of transformational and transactional leadership styles on organizational readiness for change among health professionals. SAGE Open Nursing, 9(9). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10336755/