CREATING A CULTURE OF TEAMWORK THROUGH THE USE OF THE TEAMSTEPPS FRAMEWORK: A review of the literature and considerations for Nurse Practitioners

Abstract

Teamwork is essential for patient safety as highly functioning teams make fewer errors. In high acuity academic medical centers, care delivery is complex and ever-changing, creating a high-risk environment for safety concerns. These intricate settings demand a collaborative approach to care delivery, where structured methods of teamwork and communication are engrained in day-to-day practice. With teamwork being a critical component of patient safety and communication failures likened to preventable medical errors, hospitals are looking to bolster leadership training and improve team dynamics. TeamSTEPPS is a proven method shown to enhance teamwork, communication, leadership, and patient satisfaction. TeamSTEPPS provides an evidence-based framework to optimize patient outcomes by improving communication and teamwork skills among healthcare professionals. Current literature on teamwork and communication demonstrates that nurse practitioners are uniquely positioned to improve team performance through the use of the TeamSTEPPS framework.

The association between team cohesion and performance: A network analysis of nurses

“…For example, a “High Quality Nursing Service Team” contest and internal nursing team meetings can be organized to promote cooperation and healthy competition among nurses and to express problems in cooperation in a timely manner (Al‐Hamdan et al, 2021). In addition, regular reunion activities can be organized to strengthen the emotional bond between nurses (Fitzpatrick et al, 2021).…”