One of the main ways my facility promotes interdisciplinary collaboration is by creating dedicated teams to strengthen links between professionals. In this way, not only are valuable connections formed that help the patient move from one setting to another, but work experience is also transferred. Transferring practical knowledge is supported by evidence-based practice obtained from reputable academic sources. Thus, these associations work on the principle of nursing journal clubs, which help learn about the latest trends in clinical research and develop the skills to analyze such literature (Palaka et al., 2011). Thus, collaboration during patient transitions is carried out and promoted on the basis of established interprofessional groups.
In the context of the patient transition, one of the nurse’s main tasks is to draw up a transitioning plan, following which all subsequent procedures are carried out. According to the American Nurses Association (2021), this plan should be patient-specific, based on evidence-based information, and effectively emphasize existing barriers. In addition, the nurse must provide the patient with the necessary instructions, whether it be a schedule for taking medications or other recommendations. Finally, it is essential to ensure the most effective communication between departments during the translation process to satisfy all the patient’s existing demands. Thus, the nurse’s leading role in this process is its theoretical development, identification of weaknesses, and using their capabilities to influence the patient and caregivers to fulfill all the patient’s needs.
In the context of the practice I know, I can identify several weaknesses and gaps that significantly reduce the quality of assistance provided. First of all, despite the creation of special collaboration groups, the facility’s administration does not make sufficient efforts to ensure the active participation of their members. As a result, the influence of the created organization is much less than it could be since team-building practice is practically absent. Second, nursing shifts are a significant barrier to effective patient transfer. Due to the considerable workload of the facility, many nurses have to work overtime to provide all the necessary assistance. As the study by Ma and Stimpfel (2018) shows, such conditions can lead to a significant decrease in the level of collaboration, which is observed in practice known to me. Thus, there is a gap in the form of the need for a more thorough approach to collaboration groups and a revision of work schedules to reduce the workload.
References
American Nurses Association. (2021). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice (4th ed.). Author.
Ma, C., & Stimpfel, A. W. (2018). The association between nurse shift patterns and nurse-nurse and nurse-physician collaboration in acute care hospital units. The Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(6), 335-341.
Patel, P.C., Panzera, A., DeNigris, J., Dunn, R., Chabot, J., &Conners, S. (2011). Evidence-based practice and a nursing journal club: An equation for positive patient outcomes and nursing empowerment. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development, 27(5), 227-230.