Essential for Trauma Nursing, Essay Example

Introduction

A cohesive team environment is typically very difficult to achieve in many nursing situations, particularly those which are time sensitive and require a team to form under emergency or urgent circumstances. These conditions are instrumental in shaping environments where change and progress are likely to be dictated by the conditions that are present and where there is significant pressure to perform at the highest possible level without delays. Therefore, the team leader faces substantial pressure to be effective in all efforts to improve the team dynamic and to make the most of the situation under stressful conditions where effective decision-making is of critical importance to ensure that the team is productive in its activities and its overall capacity to produce at a high level.

Body

In a nursing situation involving an emergency setting, this requires a team of nurses who are able to contribute at a high level and who represent a means of understanding the dynamics of the emergency care environment to provide optimal support under the circumstances. Therefore, this requires the full input and guidance of nurses in order to effectively produce the intended results. For example, nurses must be able to exercise sound and reasonable emotional intelligence in these situations and not allow the circumstances to get in their way of providing high quality patient care (Holbery, 2015). This reflects a need to further examine the strengths and weaknesses of each nurse on the team and to determine where his or her best contribution may have a significant impact on the circumstances (Holbery, 2015). Emotional intelligence is a critical factor in this process because it demonstrates their ability to adapt well under pressure and to work as a united front in order to optimize the contributions of each team member within the group setting (Holbery, 2015).

From a nursing-based perspective, a successful team dynamic must demonstrate the importance of fulfilling all responsibilities and meeting expectations through the work that is performed. Nurse leaders must fill the void that may be present in some teams in order to ‘rally the troops’ so to speak and to make the most of the situation under the circumstances that are provided (Knebel, Toomey, & Libby, 2012). This will reflect a greater means of developing a dynamic that will have a positive and lasting impact on outcomes for the entire team; in addition, their ability to communicate effectively will go a long way in supporting a dynamic that is based upon overall productivity and the appropriate progression of the team to achieve progress on a consistent basis (Knebel et.al 2012). Most importantly, nurse leaders must emphasize the ability of team members to compromise with each other and to make decisions that are both cohesive and timely in increasing productivity with each task that is performed (Knebel et.al, 2012). Therefore, it is important for team members to be able and willing to compromise on a consistent basis and to be able to develop a level of cohesion that will benefit the team as it moves forward (Knebel et.al, 2012).

Conclusion

Patient care outcomes in an emergency setting are contingent upon nurse-led teams who are able to produce at a high level and to be proactive in working towards solutions that will benefit the team and its members on a consistent basis. There must be a greater focus on the development of core activities and approaches that the team leader will provide in order to promote greater team effectiveness and to develop an approach that will have a positive and lasting impact on the team and its overall development and focus to ensure that patient care quality is optimal and that nurses are producing to the best of their ability to improve these circumstances.

References

Holbery, N. (2015). Emotional intelligence–essential for trauma nursing. International emergency nursing, 23(1), 13-16.

Knebel, A. R., Toomey, L., & Libby, M. (2012). Nursing leadership in disaster preparedness and response. Annual review of nursing research, 30(1), 21-45.