Guess who?
What interprofessional team member helps access community resources for patients and families?
Social Worker
You are unsure of the interaction between two medications. Who ya gonna call?
Pharmacist
This competency includes understanding and being able to communicate your knowledge, skills, and scope of practice to the IP team.
Role Clarification
A nursing student is participating in IP team rounds and notices that the physician is not using hand sanitizer between patient assessments. He mentions this to the physician who responds with a glare and an eye roll. The unit’s nursing educator pulls the nursing student aside and reprimands him for criticizing the doctor. Believing he was appropriately advocating for the patients, the nursing student argues with the educator. Who are the two parties involved in the IP conflict?
Doctor and Nursing Student
What are three barriers for nursing students engaging in IP collaboration?
(Possible Answers) Unsupportive learning environment, lack of confidence, (perceived) lack of knowledge, lack of respect, unfamiliarity, power imbalances, culture issues, unwillingness of staff/ leaders, unresolved conflicts, lack of IP training, lack of IP value, lack of leadership, etc.
What interprofessional team member assesses and provides interventions for injuries or physical illnesses?
Physiotherapist
Your patient is being discharged to home but you are unsure if they have the mobility and equipment to complete their activities of daily living (ADLs). Who ya gonna call?
Occupational Therapist
This competency involves developing a set of principles for working together that respects the ethical values of members.
Team Functioning
A patient’s family makes a request to the nurse that their mother not be mobilized by the physiotherapist during the afternoons because it interferes with their spiritual practices. The nurse, believing spiritual care is a priority for her patient, asks if the physiotherapist could work with the patient in the morning. The physiotherapist disagrees with the nurse, saying morning mobilization would be inappropriate with the patient’s medication administration as lightheadedness is a potential side effect. Who are the two parties involved in the IP conflict?
Nurse and Physiotherapist
What strategies would you use to overcome one of the barriers mentioned by your peers (Barriers to IP - $100)?
(Possible Answers) Request guidance from preceptor/ professor, Seek opportunities to collaborate within group with members you trust (ex: medical students, allied health), develop knowledge, prepare for clinical cases, discuss shared goals with colleagues before IP meetings, set an example: respect others knowledge and skills, learn about other roles, reflect on collaborative attempts, develop trust, establish a positive attitude about own profession, consider personal conflict resolution strategies, explore new conflict resolution strategies, etc.
What interprofessional team member assess a patient’s airway, physical status and comorbidities to determine appropriate sedation, ventilation, and pain control during surgery?
Anesthetist
Your patient is at the end of their life and is concerned about what faces them and their family after their death. Who ya gonna call?
Spiritual Leader/ Chaplaincy
This competency involves developing a level of consensus among those with differing views; allowing all members to feel their viewpoints have been heard no matter what the outcome.
Interprofessional Conflict Resolution
This stage in Tuckman’s Stages of Group Development is a period of tension and conflict. You might see team members engaging in arguments and competing for status and authority.
Storming
What are three strategies you can use during your consolidation placement to facilitate IP collaboration?
(Possible Answers) Request guidance from preceptor/ professor, develop knowledge, use clear and respectful communication, prepare for clinical cases, discuss shared goals with colleagues before IP meetings, set an example: respect others knowledge and skills, learn about other roles, reflect on collaborative attempts, develop trust, practice conflict resolution strategies, etc.
What interprofessional team member uses knowledge of child development and developmentally appropriate interventions to educate, prepare, and support children and families through difficult tests, procedures, and health changes?
Child Life Specialist
While feeding your patient you notice they are having difficulty chewing their food adequately to swallow without choking. Who ya gonna call?
Dietician
This competency depends on the context of the situation and the specific kinds of expertise needed at a given point in time.
Collaborative Leadership
You are a RN who works on a formal IP team. A patient’s mother calls you and during the conversation you find out that the physiotherapist was advising them about their medications. During the phone conversation you correct the mistaken information and remind her - in a non-judgmental tone - that if she has any medication related questions not to hesitate to call either you or the physician on the team. What is the IP conflict here? Who does this conflict involve? What could be the contributing factors?
Role Clarification: RN, Physician and physiotherapist
2nd year nursing students have a clinical placement on the same unit as your consolidation placement. They see you collaborating with different IP members and ask you why IP care is so important considering that the number of different roles are costly to employ. What do you say?
(Overall) Cost effective, Better patient outcomes, holistic patient care, shorter hospital stays, increase staff morale, maximizes resources, creates a culture of innovation and collegiality
What interprofessional team member provides counselling services to clients and families regarding communication and swallowing disorders?
Speech Language Pathologist
During your patient’s morning care you need assistance performing a bed bath. Who ya gonna call?
Health Care Aid/Personal Support Worker
This competency involves actively listening to other team members, including patients and families, and disseminating knowledge and information to meet shared goals of care.
Interprofessional Communication
You are part of an IP team and are conducting rounds with the team. During rounds the MD discovers that although a patient had high pain scores despite the ordered treatment the MD was not paged during the night. The MD becomes very angry and uses an accusatory tone with the charge nurse and the patient’s nurse and wants an incident form filled out and a call made to the night duty RN. He becomes angrier when the unit staff and charge nurse refuse to call the night duty RN as she has to come back to work that night. Who is the conflict between? What could be the contributing factors. If you are the RN on the IP team what could you do to reduce the conflict in this situation?
RNs, MD
Issues: collaborative leadership, poor communication, team functioning.
When participating in an interprofessional meeting a team member speaks to you in a disrespectful and hurtful way. How does this impact IP collaboration? What do you do?
Creates barriers, erodes trust, decreases respect, inhibits future interprofessional collaboration, impacts patient care, impacts communication, decreases team morale, inhibits learning, decreases collegiality, heightens tension/stress