Interprofessional Care and Collaborative Practices, Essay Example

Core competencies for Interprofessional Collaborative Practice (ICP) supports interdisciplinary education for healthcare professionals across different specialty areas as a means of promoting cooperation and active communication on a consistent basis. It is important to share ideas and models that impact different practice environments through a nationwide network of education in order to improve the knowledge base for healthcare professionals as a whole. Educational instruction must demonstrate the value of advancing the objectives of collaborative-based care and treatment for patients, as it is likely that this form of education will support patient care quality in order to minimize errors and other challenges that often emerge within these professions. There must also be a greater emphasis on relationship building among colleagues of different disciplines in order to protect patients from unnecessary risk or harm. This requires professionals to address areas where differences might be evident and to overcome these differences in favor of advancing the selected model of care to enhance the quality of life for patients.

When interdisciplinary teams collaborate for the sake of their patients, it is likely that these experiences will improve outcomes for patients and enable team members to expand their knowledge and skillsets in the process. Over time, it is anticipated that specific core competencies will emerge that will impact how professionals interact with patients and with each other in an effort to address potential weaknesses in models of care that are prevalent in healthcare organizations. These conditions will ultimately support an expanded professional capacity across different disciplines and will support the knowledge that is required to meet expectations at a high level that will translate into the successful delivery of patient care on a continuous basis.

Team and Group Development: Groups-Teams Systems

Groups are comprised of a number of characteristics that challenge its members in different ways. Most notably, self-reflection is designed to identify strengths and weaknesses within a group or team and will demonstrate the importance of understanding the dynamics of individuals and how they collectively and individually work in a team-based setting. Establishing a respectful approach to working with patients is critical, along with developing a higher level of compassion and understanding to improve their health as best as possible. It is important not to rush through any interactions with patients and to make each individual feel as if he or she is the number one priority at all times. Within the team setting, there must be a common set of goals and objectives in place that will emphasize continuity and support for patient needs, while also considering how to best improve patient circumstances through compassionate care and communication on a continuous basis.

Distinguishing between groups and teams is also important because it reflects a need to further examine these differences to improve one’s participation in either or both phenomena. Being part of a group involves a more informal process that are based upon a set of interests which are common to the group as a whole. However, a team is generally more formalized and  engages individuals with diversified skillsets in order to achieve a path that will encourage meeting a specialized set of goals and objectives that will create opportunities for the team to improve its level of communication and integration. This process is essential to the discovery of characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses that make up a team and which may influence outcomes in different ways. There must be a greater emphasis on understanding the dynamics of the members within a team so that they are on the same page in supporting the objectives that they have identified.

Team and Group Development: Group Development

Understanding the nature of a group and its dynamic is a critical factor in determining the purpose of the group and how it will perform within a given setting. It is important for group members to behave in a congruent manner so that their priorities are mutually beneficial and provide further guidance for the group going forward. There are dramatic differences between groups that have evolved in Western versus Eastern cultures, particularly as they each possess unique priorities. Westernized groups bring a set of individuals together and focus on their individual needs in making the group successful, while Easternized groups conduct their activities on a collective basis as a unit, rather than focus on individual members and their contributions to the group.

Group behaviors are also based upon a number of factors, including the surrounding environment and what are considered to be group norms. This reflects an understanding of why the group exists and how each member plays a role in group development. Generally speaking, groups are focused on socialization as well as working to complete a set of tasks; therefore, all members must be on board with the required tasks and in developing relationships with each other (consciously or unconsciously) to meet these requirements. Since each group evolves at a different pace, all stages of group development will be unique for each group experience. This is an important reminder that although there are broader concepts that are applied to groups, each group performs at a different level and must be able to address different challenges as they emerge. All groups require patience and support from their members in order to grow and thrive at the desired level, as there are significant issues to address that impact the health and longevity of the group and its members. These factors must be considered in addressing the expectations of the group and its foundation.

Team Building Blocks

Teams are comprised of a number of building blocks that influence decision-making within the team and the goals and objectives which its members have identified. Within a given team, norms will evolve that demonstrate the importance of shaping an environment in which there are opportunities to improve the team on a continuous basis through the development of these norms. Most team members will bring their own set of core values and beliefs that are likely to shape their participation within the team setting. There must be a significant emphasis on the goals and objectives of the team as a whole and how these issues will introduce new ideas and values to the team to improve the potential of meeting its goals. Within the team dynamic, expectations must be identified and feedback must be provided in order to fully engage team members and support each person’s contributions to the team as a whole. There must be a greater emphasis on the development of new perspectives and relationships within the team that will have an impact on the outcomes that are achieved.

The norms that are established within the team represent a means of understanding the needs of the team and what is required to meet expectations. There must be a significant emphasis on understanding the dynamics of the situation and in promoting collaboration that will positively impact the team as a whole. This process is ongoing and reflects a need to further examine the context of the team environment and how norms might be adjusted in order to accomplish the intended objectives of the team. It is necessary to develop an understanding of the circumstances involving team norms and what steps are required to facilitate norms that will be valuable to the team. Furthermore, each role within the team must be identified and its members must be able to demonstrate the importance of meeting the expectations of the team as a whole.

Relationship-Centered Leadership: Perspectives on Leadership

The development of a successful leader within a group or team requires an individual who is prepared to build relationships with other people in order to achieve an effective set of outcomes for the team. Team leaders must be able to recognize the strengths of each team member and be able to demonstrate an effective understanding of the needs of the team as a whole, as this supports the need for further guidance and support in meeting team objectives. Leaders are typically categorized by their potential and the type of leadership style which they embody; therefore, these issues must be considered throughout the course of the team and in supporting a need for further analysis and support for the team’s long-term objectives.

Leaders must serve in a capacity with strong emotional intelligence and must be prepared to manage the needs of the team environment in a positive manner. A leader’s attitudes and beliefs will ultimately shape the team dynamic in many ways; therefore, the leader must be focused on his or her perceptions of the team and its potential to perform at a high level at all times. Leadership theories such as the Great Man theory or Relational theory demonstrate that all leaders fall into a specific subset of leadership that will demonstrate specific attributes that characterize the leadership and the work that is performed. Personality characteristics must also be well understood and improved by the leader, regardless of the circumstances in which he or she leads the team or group. Leaders must be enthusiastic, motivating, encouraging, yet assertive in their efforts to produce at a high level and to enable the team to meet its goals and objectives as best as possible.

Relationship-Centered Leadership: Leadership Building Blocks

The building blocks of leadership are complex and multifaceted in nature; therefore, they require an effective understanding of the tools and resources that will drive the leader to achieve his or her greatest potential. Effective leaders possess strong emotional intelligence and are prepared to manage the responsibilities of this role, assuming new challenges and roles as necessary to improve the team and its dynamic. Leaders must recognize the interpersonal skills and characteristics that evolve within a team due to the different types of personalities that exist; these tools will support and encourage members to take risks and to recognize the benefits of supportive leadership throughout the team’s journey. Leaders possess some degree of power within a team which may be exercised under specific conditions; however, there must be a greater emphasis on the continued growth and development of the team and its ability to be successful in meeting its objectives under the leadership that is in place.

Self-awareness and self-confidence are two attributes that are critical for successful leaders; therefore, these considerations must demonstrate the importance of understanding the challenges of the team and its ability to make a difference. Leaders must provide oversight to team members and serve as a proud example of self-confidence and strength within the team setting. The leader must establish relationships with each team member and be able to recognize the value of supporting a team dynamic that will have lasting benefits for the team as a whole. Leaders must also engage their members and motivate them to perform at the highest possible level at all times in order to meet the required expectations and to make a difference within the team as a whole.

Relational Leadership

The concept of relational leadership is of critical importance to a given team because it reflects a need to further examine the tools and characteristics that influence the team and motivate others to do their best at all times. Relational leadership supports a greater understanding and an acknowledgement of personal attributes and characteristics which support personal and professional growth at a high level. These characteristics will likely have an impact on other team members; therefore, they must be addressed in the context of their impact on the team. Most importantly, leaders must be able to relate to the members within their teams and be effective in recognizing the strengths and weaknesses of each member. This will play an important role in advancing the team and in bringing the best out of each member so that their contributions are maximized. This process is challenging, yet it provides a basis for understanding the needs of the team and how it might succeed, based upon the contributions of its members.

Relational leadership also embodies the identification of roles and the development of clear objectives and expectations within these roles that will improve the team and its overall strength and focus. Leaders must be willing to wear many hats, including educating members, smoothing over conflicts, and optimizing communication so that all members are able to contribute on a consistent basis. This process also demonstrates a need for additional guidance and support in expanding the knowledge and resources that are available to teams so that they are able to perform their roles effectively. It is believed that relational leadership will break barriers and provide the team with an additional layer of support and guidance that is critical for each member’s personal and professional development and growth, along with their understanding of the needs of the team as a whole.

Building & Sustaining Collaborative Interprofessional Teams: Leveraging Diversity

Within the context of the team environment, collaboration is essential to the success of interprofessional teams in order to meet the desired objectives. One of the critical benefits of these teams is to demonstrate a diverse body of knowledge and expertise in a variety of areas that will address a number of key variables that impact the team and its overall level of experience. The interprofessional collaboration represents a means of developing relationships among colleagues that will support the enhancement and delivery of high quality care and treatment to all patients in the healthcare setting. The level of diversity that exists is essential to the overall success of the team and its impact on the patients who receive care. Diversity may be approached from different perspectives, as it is evident across many layers of the interprofessional dynamic, such as core values, specific knowledge, unique skillsets, and communication patterns. These forces drive the continued growth and expansion of the team in order to meet its objectives in supporting patient care at a high level.

Diversity within healthcare practice is a critical factor in supporting the continued development of the team experience and in determining which steps are required to ensure that members are contributing at a high level. Ideas must be shared among colleagues and must demonstrate the importance of acknowledging the characteristics and attributes of each member who brings a specific skillset to the team for the betterment of patients. There must be a greater emphasis on the development of skills and communication patterns that will be effective within the team setting and which will encourage a safety net within the team in which to perform. Since the expectations of this type of team are very high, it is necessary to develop a support system that will recognize the need for diversity within the team and which conveys the importance of shaping the needs of the team as best as possible. These efforts will play a role in determining how to best move forward within the team in order to make a difference in the lives of the patients who are served.

Building & Sustaining Collaborative Interprofessional Teams: Facilitating a Collaborative Culture & Generative Practices

Collaboration within interprofessional teams requires a culture that supports open communication, idea sharing, and the ability to recognize the primary areas of focus that will support team-based objectives. This process offers a unique learning curve for all team members and demonstrates the importance of new perspectives in order to achieve the desired results within the team setting. In order to maximize the potential of the team, it is important to identify areas where the team culture is significant and where it must continue to evolve in order to support team-based objectives. All persons within the team must be able to openly communicate their ideas and express themselves, as this support an understanding of the needs of the group in supporting the desired outcomes. There must be a significant emphasis on understanding the team’s members in order to promote a culture that is collaborative and inclusive on many different levels.

The interprofessional team must also recognize the significance of each member’s journey and evolution as part of the learning curve for the team as a whole. This process is ongoing and supports different dynamics within the team that will enhance members’ ability to achieve their responsibilities to the team. Sacrifice must be balanced with self-awareness and self-esteem in favor of supporting the needs and expectations of the team so that its objectives are met without difficulty. These actions will further enhance the activities taking place that support the ability to provide high quality care and treatment to all patients on a continuous basis.