Interdisciplinary collaboration can be termed as the practice of approaching patient care from a team-based perspective. This is attributable to the major transformations observed in delivery of healthcare making it more interconnected. Following this, there is need for proper coordination between nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and other disciplines to enhance the level of care given to patients.
Medical researchers have highlighted four main competency domains that touch on every aspect of caregiving from a team-based perspective to foster proper care of patients. In this light, competency domain 1 touches on the values and ethics for interprofessional practice to promote mutual respect among collaborators in nursing (Hickey and Brosnan, 182). Placing the interests of patients at the center of healthcare delivery, respecting unique cultures, values, roles and expertise of other professions, and acting with honesty and integrity in relationships with patients, families and other team members are some of the statements outlined in Domain 1. I hold these values with high regard thus consider them my strengths when it comes to interdisciplinary practice. However, the areas that need improvement on in this domain include the management of ethical dilemmas specific to interprofessional patient-centered situations. This is mainly because I have never been exposed to similar situations thus lacking expertise in that area. Conforming to these concepts would prove effective in working in team-based environments.
Competency domain 2 deals with the roles and responsibilities as it requires one to use the knowledge on their role as well as of the other professions involved to properly address the needs of the patients. Exploring the statements for this domain, I have discovered my strengths to be the ability to forge interdependent relationships with other professions to improve care and advance learning, using the unique abilities of all team members to optimize patient care, and explaining the roles and responsibilities of other team members in an effort to enhance healthcare (Hickey and Brosnan, 182). Conversely, my weaknesses in this domain are recognizing one’s limitation in skills and knowledge as I tend to do more than am capable of. Also, I need improvement in the engagement of continuous interprofessional development to enhance team performance. A keen understanding of the ideals in Domain 2 would be beneficial in outlining responsibilities in team-based nursing environments
Competency Domain 3 looks into interdisciplinary communication between patients, families, and other health practitioners to augment a team approach to the maintenance of health and treatment alike. Listening actively, and encouraging of ideas and opinions of other team members is one of my key strengths as outlined in this domain (Hickey and Brosnan, 183). However, I need to make improvements in the selection of communication tools and techniques I use to facilitate discussions and enhance team play. Addressing this shortcoming would really uplift my interdisciplinary communication skills thus making me a valuable team asset.
Teams and teamwork is touched on Competency Domain 4 to ensure that members apply relationship-building values of team dynamics to enhance their performances in various team roles to plan and deliver patient-centered care that is not only timely, but also safe, efficient, effective, and equitable. My strong ability to describe the process of team development and the responsibilities of effective teams (Hickey and Brosnan, 184) is my main strength in this sector. However, I need to personally look into using process improvement strategies to increase the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teamwork and team-based care as it undermines my efficiency as a team leader. Getting familiar with the principles in Domain 4 would really help me on my path to becoming a reliable nurse-leader.
According to WHO, it is through the implementation of interdisciplinary collaboration and respecting one another’s point of view in healthcare that multiple disciplines can more effectively as a team to improve patient outcomes. Through interprofessional collaboration, team members can readily compensate for each other’s weaknesses and in turn transforming them to strengths aimed at providing effective healthcare which is patient-centered (Mary). Additionally, it is an eye-opening venture for nurse managers as it helps them in developing professional relationships with other team members while it advances their knowledge base (Naylor). For a better healthcare system, it is prudent that we embrace interdisciplinary measures in nursing to guarantee satisfaction among patients, families, health professionals and the community at large.
Works Cited
Hickey, Joanne V., and Christine A. Brosnan. Evaluation of Health Care Quality in Advanced Practice Nursing. Springer, 2012.
Mary, Sullivan, et. al. “Interprofessional Collaboration and Education.” American Journal of Nursing, vol. 115, no. 3, 2015, http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Fulltext/2015/03000/Interprofessional_Collaboration_a nd_Education.26.aspx . Accessed 29 January 2017.
Naylor, Mary D. “Viewpoint: Interprofessional Collaboration and the Future of Health Care” American Nurse Today: The Official Journal of ANA, vol. 6, no. 6, 2011, https://www.americannursetoday.com/viewpoint-interprofessional-collaboration-and- the-future-of-health-care/. Accessed 29 January 2017.
