Deck 8: Pulling Together for the Patientteamwork in Health Care

Question 1

The nurse manager is using research to guide the development of teamwork on a medical-surgical unit. Which expectation from the research should be the highest priority to this nurse manager?

A) Patient satisfaction on the unit increase.
B) Staff turnover on the unit is at a lower rate.
C) Patient falls on team hospital units decrease.
D) Staff ratings of the level of teamwork increase.

Answer 1

C
Explanation: All of the options are correct expectations based on research on the development of teamwork; however, patient safety is always the priority consideration, and decreased numbers of patient falls on the unit is likely the most important expectation to the nurse manager. Increased patient satisfaction is a positive outcome, but not the most important. The impact on staff related to teamwork is positive, resulting in a lower turnover rate and increased staff ratings of the level of teamwork, but patient safety is still the most important expectation.

Question 2

The nurse manager is in the process of forming a committee to design, implement, and monitor a plan for reducing cycle time of a key clinical process on an acute care unit. Which type of healthcare team does the nurse manager form for this task?

A) Intact work team
B) Management team
C) Ad hoc or variable team
D) Quality improvement team

Answer 2

D
Explanation: Quality improvement or project teams exist temporarily for the purpose of achieving an improvement goal. This type of team has a mostly stable membership that meets over time using structured group and quality techniques to design, implement, and monitor processes related to change. Intact work groups consist of health professionals, and sometimes support personnel, who work together consistently over time and perform the same types of tasks on a regular basis. Management teams are formal groups of managers who are accountable for organizing and coordinating specific organizational units and personnel and for achieving organizational goals. Ad hoc teams are formed based on circumstances and patient care needs. These teams may have shifting membership and may perform a variety of tasks. This type of group is the most common in healthcare.

Question 3

A healthcare facility is utilizing the "Big Five" hallmarks of effective team behavior to evaluate teamwork in patient care units. Which segment of the plan is most likely to require a cohesive and trusting environment among the team members?

A) Mutual performance monitoring
B) Team leadership
C) Backup behavior
D) Adaptability

Answer 3

A
Explanation: In order to be effective, "The Big Five" method of mutual performance monitoring requires a cohesive and trusting environment among team members. Members instinctively monitor each other's work and identify lapses, mistakes, and gaps that can compromise the team's ability to meet goals and expectations. Team leadership involves a leader who helps teams create a shared understanding of the team's goals and the ways that the goals will be accomplished. Backup behavior is the helping behavior that occurs when another team member is having a problem with performance (identified through mutual performance monitoring). Team members might provide feedback and coaching, or help a team member complete a task or step. Adaptability is the ability of team members to change their behavior in relation to the behavior of other team members or to respond to factors in the team's work environment.

Question 4

Which team-building step will the nurse manager apply when tuning up an existing patient care team?

A) Develop leadership skills
B) Create a point of team focus
C) Pay attention to the process
D) Troubleshoot team problems

Question 5

A nurse is appointed to the position of team leader. Which is the best way for the nurse to manage the process associated with this position?

A) Drive team discussions.
B) Tell the team what to do.
C) Allow dominant members to lead.
D) Manage the content\task discussions.

Question 6

An interdisciplinary team is formed to work on the processes and goals of connected care. Which is the most serious problem that the team might experience?

A) Unclear goals and team frustration
B) Team meeting dysfunction
C) Negative team member behaviors
D) Lack of organization support

Question 7

In some instances, team leaders and members use intentional activities to reinforce identity and cohesiveness. Which team is most likely to need team building activities?

A) A team of multi-cultural members from various departments
B) A team that has worked together over a long period of time
C) A team who has accomplished tasks and recalls shared experiences
D) A diverse team that uses intentional activities to reinforce identity

Question 8

Nurses use team huddles as a means to share information about patients and patient needs prior to the beginning of the shift by reviewing patient records and plans of care.

Question 9

In the norming stage of team development, team members settle down and get to work on achieving their goals.

Question 10

Structure within the organization is more important for teams that have a specific purpose and a short time horizon for intact work group teams.