NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2

Name

Capella university

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

Prof. Name

Date

Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

This paper explores an interview with a healthcare professional to identify an organizational issue that requires an interdisciplinary solution. The report presents the interview findings, discusses change theories, and examines leadership strategies and collaboration approaches for addressing the identified problem.

Interview Summary

The interviewee, a charge nurse with over five years of experience, oversees nursing staff, facilitates interdepartmental coordination, and manages patient care at St. Michael’s Medical Center, an acute care facility specializing in emergency medicine, surgery, and chronic disease management. The interview focused on communication delays between nursing staff and physicians during emergencies, particularly during patient handovers and critical care interventions. Previous initiatives to address this issue included implementing a standardized handoff tool; however, adherence was inconsistent. Staff training and communication workshops were introduced, but sustaining improvements remained a challenge. While the organization fosters a supportive culture, interdisciplinary collaboration is often fragmented as staff members work independently, relying on their specialized expertise. The interviewee emphasized that enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration through a structured communication framework and engagement strategy could significantly improve patient outcomes.

The interview was conducted using open-ended questions to encourage comprehensive responses and facilitate a natural conversational flow (Slade & Sergent, 2023). A semi-structured approach allowed for flexibility in exploring emerging topics. Active listening techniques such as paraphrasing and clarifying were employed to validate understanding and encourage elaboration of key points (Slade & Sergent, 2023). Contextual prompts were also used to identify successful and unsuccessful organizational strategies. The interview concluded with a summary to ensure accuracy and provide the interviewee an opportunity to share additional insights.

Issue Identification

A key issue identified in the interview was communication breakdowns between nurses and physicians during patient handovers and critical care situations. These breakdowns contribute to delays in care, confusion, and increased patient safety risks. An evidence-based interdisciplinary approach is essential, as it enables healthcare professionals to collaborate effectively, ensuring seamless communication and improved coordination of care (Simons et al., 2022).

Implementing standardized communication tools such as structured handoff protocols can mitigate these issues. Research suggests that staff training in teamwork enhances communication and fosters trust among healthcare professionals (Eva et al., 2024). Furthermore, interdisciplinary collaboration encourages continuous feedback and innovation, leading to sustainable improvements. By cultivating a culture of mutual respect and teamwork, organizations can create a more cohesive and communicative healthcare environment that promotes patient safety and high-quality care delivery.

Change Theory and an Interdisciplinary Solution

Kurt Lewin’s Change Theory is a well-established model that supports organizational change through its three stages: unfreezing, changing, and refreezing (Smith et al., 2022). This theory can be applied to address communication challenges in healthcare. The unfreezing stage involves identifying gaps in communication and raising awareness about their impact on patient outcomes. In the changing stage, interdisciplinary interventions such as structured communication protocols (e.g., SBAR) and joint training sessions are implemented to improve teamwork. The refreezing phase focuses on reinforcing new communication practices through continuous monitoring, feedback, and leadership support. Peer-reviewed literature supports the effectiveness of Lewin’s model in facilitating sustainable organizational transformation through interdisciplinary collaboration (Smith et al., 2022).

Leadership Strategy and an Interdisciplinary Solution

Transformational leadership is a crucial strategy for addressing communication breakdowns between nurses and physicians. This leadership style fosters innovation, professional growth, and a shared commitment to achieving common goals. Transformational leaders promote open communication, mentorship, and trust-building across departments, which enhances teamwork and information sharing (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021).

These leaders also model desired behaviors, ensuring staff adherence to standardized handoff protocols. Additionally, they support continuous training initiatives and monitor progress to sustain improvements. Research validates that transformational leadership improves interdisciplinary collaboration and enhances patient care outcomes (Jankelová & Joniaková, 2021). By fostering a culture of teamwork and shared responsibility, healthcare organizations can implement effective communication strategies that drive long-term change.

Collaboration Approach for Interdisciplinary Teams

The TeamSTEPPS framework is an evidence-based approach designed to enhance communication and teamwork in healthcare settings. It emphasizes clear communication, mutual respect, and shared goals, which are critical for fostering collaboration between nurses and physicians (Hassan et al., 2024). TeamSTEPPS provides structured training, role clarification, and feedback mechanisms to address communication breakdowns, particularly during patient handovers. By adopting this framework, healthcare organizations can establish a culture of collaboration where all team members understand their roles and responsibilities, leading to improved coordination and reduced errors (Hassan et al., 2024). Research confirms the effectiveness of TeamSTEPPS in enhancing interprofessional collaboration and patient safety, making it a credible and practical solution for addressing communication challenges.

Conclusion

Addressing communication breakdowns in healthcare requires an interdisciplinary approach. By applying Lewin’s Change Theory, transformational leadership strategies, and evidence-based frameworks like TeamSTEPPS, healthcare organizations can foster a collaborative culture that improves communication, enhances teamwork, and optimizes patient outcomes. These strategies contribute to sustainable organizational improvements, ensuring high-quality and safe patient care.

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

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