NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification

NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification In today’s dynamic healthcare environment, interdisciplinary collaboration is critical in improving patient outcomes and enhancing organizational efficiency (Bendowska & Baum, 2023). As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, active participation in intra- and interprofessional teams is essential for driving meaningful change. One major strategy for enhancing quality is to determine the organizational problems that are available and come up with viable solutions.

For this assessment, Sarah Thompson, Nurse Manager at City General Hospital, was interviewed via Zoom meeting. The interview established the problems associated with nursing staff shortages and their impact on patient care quality. The case analysis was especially useful for understanding the nature of tackling organizational issues and the importance of multi-faceted approaches to managing the workforce, supporting employees, and enhancing patient care. This report aims at evaluating the identified problem and searching for the solution among the change theories and the leadership approaches to use to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration.

Interview Summary

From the interview with the Nurse Manager Sarah Thompson of City General Hospital, one of the main challenges identified in the organization is the shortage of nurses and high turnover. She noted that the situation has resulted in high job demands, employee demotivation, and patient dissatisfaction. This has been further compounded by the effects of COVID-19 which saw most nurses quitting due to burnout. She went further stating that lack of interdisciplinary cooperation has worsened the problem because nurses, administration, and other healthcare teams have to cooperate to look after patients. Past solutions for the problem involve recruitment practices, changing schedules, and mental health services as part of the intervention plan; more formally rigorous lines of treatment are required for more effective change.

Issue Identification

The problem mentioned in the interview namely the lack of nursing staff and high turnover rates can be solved through an interdisciplinary approach which includes the involvement of nursing management, the human resources department, and mental health specialists. According to the study conducted by Tamata & Mohammadnezhad (2023), increased staffing and support options for nurses improve patient satisfaction rates and the working conditions of nurses. Ohue & Menta (2024) also showed that structured mentorship programs and resilience training are imperative for nurse retention due to burnout and emotional exhaustion in their strategy. To apply EBP, the interdisciplinary team can develop data-supported staffing plans, increase professional collaboration, and integrate mental health services to address working conditions. Such approaches can be linked to organizational policies and leadership interventions to foster the development of a socially responsible solution to nursing shortages within the healthcare field.

Applying Change Theories and Leadership Strategies for Interdisciplinary Success

Nursing staff dearth or shortage alongside high turnover stresses the functionality of change management theories and leadership. One such model that is useful for change management is Lewin’s Change Management Model consists of three key processes; the Unfreezing process, the change process, and the refreezing process. Lewin’s Model can facilitate the identification of a requirement for change in staffing patterns, adoption of the best strategies, and constant enforcement of sustainable changes (Burnes, 2020). Kotter’s 8-step model also supports change by focusing on leader-led activities, including establishing a sense of urgency, creating a change coalition, and specifying small wins for continued motivation (Miles et al., 2023).

About leadership, transformational leadership has been found to have a determining influence on interdisciplinary teamwork as well as staff turnover. Gebreheat et al. (2023) identified that the implementation of the transformational leadership style that encourages and supports the staff also reduces burnout while enhancing job satisfaction among nurses. According to Restivo et al. (2022), leadership promotes teamwork, a reduction in staff turnover as well as the improvement of patient safety. Through the application of these change theories and leadership frameworks, it is possible to systematically arrange a change in healthcare organizations in a manner that provides benefits to staff and, in turn, the patient population.

Effective Collaboration Strategies for Interdisciplinary Teams

The nursing staff shortage and turnover can be alleviated through structured collaboration for developing inter-professional work care models to improve patient care (Geese & Schmitt, 2022). One is Interprofessional Education (IPE), which enhances collaboration in handling healthcare issues since it prepares all the experts in different fields to work as a team. According to Anand et al. (2021), Interprofessional Education (IPE) helps learners to work in a team, and ensure effective communication and collaborative decision-making with increased patient-centered care. Another example of a proven tool is TeamSTEPPS (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) designed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) which enhances teamwork, communication, leadership, and cooperation in emergent conditions (Kuriyan et al., 2021).

Another important practice is the Collaborative Practice Model (CPM) which aims to solve the problems with the help of interdisciplinary and collegial management. Shirey et al. (2021) affirm that the Interprofessional Collaborative Practice Model aims to promote and improve population health through effective collaboration and communication among different healthcare professionals. Applying these strategies can foster a more submissive, communicative, and assertive interdisciplinary team; therefore preventing high turnover, and improving patient care.

Conclusion

Managing nursing staff shortages and high turnover issues is complex and requires a precise and research-driven, change management plan to sustain an interdisciplinary framework for practice. Applying Lewin’s Change Management model and transformational leadership will help healthcare organizations provide effective solutions to address workforce turnover and enhance patient outcomes. Interprofessional Education (IPE) and the Collaborative Practice Model (CPM) are efficient in promoting teamwork and can increase the quality of healthcare according to the research (Shirey et al., 2021). Enhancing communication between different disciplines, adopting evidence-based staffing approaches, and enhancing nurses’ quality of work-life are valuable avenues towards enhancement. Multidisciplinary collaboration in fashioning a strategic plan protects both the human capital and the quality of patient outcomes in dynamic healthcare systems.