A staff nurse has been appointed to a multidisciplinary patient ...

[krzymel]

A staff nurse has been appointed to a multidisciplinary patient care task force. The unit manager notes that the meetings have been less productive since this nurse joined; furthermore, the staff nurse seems unhappy with this assignment.
 
  What action by the manager would most likely help this staff nurse become a productive member of the task force? a. Ask the nurse whether there are problems with the other members.
  b. Instruct the nurse to observe for the next few meetings.
  c. Remind the nurse to focus mainly on patient outcomes.
  d. Ask the nurse to explain his or her feelings about the assignment.

Question 2

A nursing supervisor thinks that a staff nurse serving on several multidisciplinary committees is not demonstrating collaborative practice behaviors. What behavior by the staff nurse would best illustrate the supervisor's opinion? The staff nurse
 
  a. agrees with, but does not incorporate, other disciplines' input.
  b. does not listen to viewpoints and opinions of other disciplines.
  c. feels nursing is the only viewpoint for analyzing patient issues.
  d. is territorial and unwilling to share the patients' care plans.

[cswans24]

Answer to Question 1

D
According to Gardner (2005), there are 10 specific lessons for collaborative relationships, including constructive conflict resolution skills. Because this nurse seems unhappy and the group has been less productive, the most likely issue is that the nurse has brought some conflict to the task force since joining. Therefore, it is important for the manager to explore the feelings this nurse has about the assignment.
Because the task force was more productive before this nurse joined, it seems unlikely that there are problems among the members that were not noticed before.
Observing for a few minutes will not change anything that would lead to the nurse being happier with the task force.
Reminding the nurse to focus mainly on patient outcomes is patronizing and does nothing to help the actual problem.

Answer to Question 2

A
The nurse who indicates agreement with others' suggestions but then does not incorporate them is not being collaborative. True collaboration involves a mix of different viewpoints and opinions to understand and solve complex issues. Working together toward common purposes, improving health, respecting shared strengths, offering effective peer review, caring, and compassion are fundamental to the profession.
The nurse who does not listen to viewpoints and opinions of other disciplines falls well short of collaboration; this nurse is not even cooperating with others.
The nurse who thinks nursing is the only viewpoint for analyzing patient issues is most likely not even listening to the input of others and being uncooperative.
The nurse who is territorial and unwilling to share the patients' care plans not only is uncooperative and noncollaborative but also seems to be hostile toward other disciplines.

[krzymel]

Thank you!

[cswans24]

Always glad to help...