Team building is an initiative meant to develop teamwork and cooperation within any work unit. Effective teams have shared goals and have the motivation to effectively utilize the strengths of every member to achieve the goal. Not only does a nurse leader need to develop EI and communication skills, but must also enhance his/her team building skills. Through teambuilding, every nurse has a specific role to perform. At my workplace, there are different initiatives of team building. In the dialysis unit, where I work for instance, I perform the roles of the charge nurse. I effectively promote efficient and safe patient care and maintain the highest clinical standards the unit. In particular, I preside over different reports, check for any orders that call for clarification, effectively deal with the pharmacy, and continually make the assignment for the different shifts. As a charge nurse, I usually stand up for the nurses (Mahlmeister, 1999).
Similarly, I would like to perform the roles of the overall manager of the dialysis clinic. Through team building, I will able to be the overall manager of the dialysis clinic. I will besides develop my EI skills to improve the interpersonal relationship essential for effective leadership (Mahlmeister, 1999). My desire will always to understand emotional intelligence since only then will I be able to comprehend patients’ attitude, behaviors, interpersonal skills and the employees’ potential. I basically need to develop my social skill as it is the sure way to develop enhanced EI vital for managing the dialysis clinic.
At my workplace, emotional intelligence has improved the interaction has improved the interaction among nurses, between nurses and other healthcare professionals. It has also improved the interaction between nurses and patients. For instance, emotional intelligence improved the interaction among nurses at a time when every nurse realized the need for controlling their strong emotions and impulses (Salovey and Mayer, 1990). Initially, nurses could not withhold their emotions and impulses. They knew little about the needs for social awareness. This caused constant dispute with fellow nurses and healthcare professionals. However, with the understanding of emotional intelligence, they have learned social awareness. Nurses no longer give into negative emotions like anxiety, frustration or anger that are recipes for poor relationships. Every time there is a social problem, nurses sit back well and integrate their emotions into the though process. They have continued to demonstrate the skills of relationship management, self management and social awareness. This has significantly improved the interaction among nurses, between nurses and other healthcare professionals.
References
Mahlmeister L. (1999). Professional accountability and legal liability for the team leader and charge nurse. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 28(3):300-9.
Salovey, P. and Mayer, J. D. (1990). Emotional intelligence. Journal of Imagination, Cognition, and Personality, 9, 185-211.
