NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification
Student Name
Capella University
NURS FPX 4010 Leading in Intrprof Practice
Prof. Name
Date
Interview Summary
An insightful interview with Emily, who had been a nurse at the Riverwood Healthcare Center (RHC), a 25-bed institution in Aitkin for nearly nine years. She highlighted Medication Errors (MEs) as a common concern. The activities of administering medicines, counseling patients, developing precise medical records, and coordinating care from teams of healthcare experts come as part of her services.
She stated that MEs had become a major concern at RHC because of poor communication, overloads, inadequate training of the staff and unclear protocols regarding complex medications. RHC established measures such as Bar Code Medication Administration (BCMA), staff training programs, and double-check protocols for high-risk drugs to reduce the occurrence of MEs and improve safety (Albeshri et al., 2024). Emily stressed the need to advocate for a collaborative approach by pharmacists, physicians and nurses to reduce MEs. Alsabri et al. (2020), conclude that a multi-disciplinary team approach from healthcare experts can improve reconciliation practices of drugs, patients’ safety and clinical outcomes.
Approach to Conduct the Interview
The interview intended to recognize existing gaps and evaluate the efficiency of the RHC’s integrated approaches. Emily explained that teamwork is important in delivering critical outcomes and that there must be standard protocols to deal with MEs so prescribing and dispensing are less arduous. During the interview, I utilized two key techniques, active listening and open-ended questioning, to ensure comprehensive data collection. The questions were open, encouraging the respondent to elaborate on the situation at RHC. According to Slade and Sergent (2023), open-ended questions enable participants to express their perspectives freely.
Active listening fostered rapport and facilitated a deeper understanding between me and the interviewee. Paying close attention to their responses without preconceived judgments is crucial for effective interviews. These approaches created a comfortable environment for the interviewee, allowing for the seamless collection of valuable insights into the challenges. These strategies helped Nurse Emily deliver insight into the issues around MEs and possible solutions to address the challenges.
Problem Identification
The interview pointed out that the lack of standardized protocols, communication failure, inadequate staff training and workloads cause MEs at RHC. MEs are a great risk to the health of patients and contribute to mortality rates. MEs are ranked third in the United States (U.S) as the cause of death. An estimated 7,000 to 9,000 Americans die yearly due to MEs. Besides, research indicates that at least one ME occurs daily, accounting for about 100,000 hospitalizations annually (Alandajani et al., 2022). Although RHC has attempted to mitigate this problem through various strategies, the continued incidence of MEs indicates that the plan is insufficient.
This calls for a holistic, team-based approach to improve patient safety. Managing medications is inherently complex and requires multiple procedures and team collaboration to identify challenges and create effective solutions. According to (Zaij et al. (2023), multidisciplinary teams are vital in fostering an environment that supports continuous improvements in safe medication practices and precise drug reconciliation. Such teams facilitate the creation of standardized procedures, minimizing the risk of MEs. Interprofessional collaboration integrates diverse expertise.
Nurses contribute their understanding of medication administration, pharmacists ensure safe and effective medication use through detailed knowledge of side effects, and physicians oversee clinical treatment plans and make critical medical decisions. This cooperative approach allows for a thorough assessment of patient needs. It leads to tailored care that reduces the likelihood of MEs (Zaij et al., 2023). Such teams can pool diverse knowledge, eliminate potential obstacles to safe medication practices and contribute to enhancing patient outcomes and the efficiency of hospitals. The method adheres to quality standards and principles for patient-centered care and safety.
Change Theories Lead to an Interdisciplinary Solution
Lewin’s change theory is an ideal model for addressing the problem of MEs in RHC. This theory is structured around the three phases of unfreezing, changing and refreezing. This framework would guide the organization to recognize the necessity of change and integrate new practices. In the unfreezing phase, leadership encourages the staff to recognize the importance of collaboration and the roles of clear communication and technology in improving patient safety. This stage requires educating the caregivers about MEs and sharing past incidents to develop a sense of urgency to change. During the changing phase, practical interventions include collaborative workshops to address medication challenges.
They aid in refining drug administration procedures, executing real-time error reporting systems and improving training programs to reduce MEs and ensure ongoing improvement (Stanz et al., 2021). In the refreezing phase, these practices become part of daily operations. These practices reinforce a culture of teamwork and continued staff education for lasting impact. Lewin’s theory of change helps reduce MEs by introducing team engagement, planning strategy and cultural change with a continuous assessment to determine whether rules are being implemented. Stanz et al. (2021), highlight the theory’s relevance in promoting safe medication practices and strengthening communication strategies like effective “transfer of care” to optimize drug management. The resources supporting Lewin’s theory provide evidence-based examples affirming its practical application in healthcare settings.
Leadership Strategies
Transformational Leadership (TL) can be key in pursuing a multidisciplinary approach to eliminating MEs. According to Ystaas et al. (2023), TL involves empowering and inspiring team members to work toward shared goals under the umbrella of an innovation culture of collective responsibility. TL fosters the development of effective healthcare practice and encourages staff to own their roles in advancing patient safety by promoting interprofessional collaboration. This leadership style is appropriate for RHC, as nurse managers and administrators are integral to ensuring a safe and effective care setting.
Their leadership helps to build teamwork cohesion and encourages active involvement among pharmacists, nurses and physicians in establishing comprehensive drug safety protocols. Moreover, TL effectively reduces MEs and promotes integrating safety practices and teamwork efforts, like BCMA and double checking to achieve accuracy and reduce errors (Albeshri et al., 2024). Thirdly, TL fosters an environment of continuous learning and adaptation that allows teams to remain proactive in solving emerging challenges related to medication management. Ystaas et al. (2023) demonstrate that while TL is associated with increased cooperation, the safe practices implemented also facilitate the reduction of MEs. This approach identifies some major potential of TL in enhancing interprofessional teamwork and a conducive culture of patient safety at RHC.
Collaboration Approach for Interdisciplinary Teams
Collaborative Care Models (CCM) and forming collaborative committees are effective strategies to mitigate MEs. Such committees bring together interdisciplinary teams that pinpoint safety concerns. They provide education and drive continuous improvement efforts. These committees promote active communication, shared responsibility and collective decision-making when addressing MEs at RHC. These committees conduct regular meetings. They use structured communication tools and administer electronic medication to promote instant data sharing (Hanifin & Zielenski, 2020). It improves medication practices and optimizes workflow in patient care. CCM enables team members to communicate in real-time to inform each other about patient status updates.
Additionally, the model supports identifying possible risks and improving medication administration processes. The model assembles coordinated groups of healthcare experts, including pharmacists, nurses, doctors, and care coordinators. It helps consider different aspects for identifying and rectifying the root causes of MEs. Teamwork improves transparency and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. It is crucial in preventing errors due to fragmented care (Hanifin & Zielenski, 2020). The CCM approach is highly relevant because teamwork among healthcare providers reduces errors. The research by Abdulrhim et al. (2021), explores how CCM utilizes the diverse expertise of healthcare professionals to enhance the quality of care and reduce errors. Evidence underscores how traditional care models fail to meet patient needs and can negatively impact health outcomes.
Conclusion
Reducing MEs at RHC can only be successfully achieved through integrating a multidisciplinary approach. Major contributing factors to MEs are communication breakdowns, lack of proper training and unstandardized protocols. Lewin’s change theory can help RHC instill a collaborative culture. TL is also important as it enables teams to work cohesively. It supports adopting safety practices and continuous learning. Using the CCM and developing interdisciplinary committees promote effective communication and teamwork for medication management.
References
Abdulrhim, S., Sankaralingam, S., Ibrahim, M. I. M., Diab, M. I., Hussain, M. A. M., Al Raey, H., & Awaisu, A. (2021). Collaborative care model for diabetes in primary care settings in Qatar: A qualitative exploration among healthcare professionals and patients who experienced the service. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 21, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06183-z
Alandajani, A., Khalid, B., Ng, Y. G., & Banakhar, M. (2022). Knowledge and attitudes regarding medication errors among nurses: A cross-sectional study in major Jeddah hospitals. Nursing Reports, 12(4), 1023–1039. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep12040098
Albeshri, Alharbi, R. A., Alhawsa, Bilal, A. M., Alowaydhi, Alzahrani, O. M., Fallata, Almaliki, Alfadly, & Albarakati. (2024). The role of nursing in reducing medical errors: Best practices and systemic solutions. Journal of Ecohumanism, 3(7). https://doi.org/10.62754/joe.v3i7.4574
NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification
Alsabri, M., Boudi, Z., Lauque, D., Roger, D. D., Whelan, J. S., Östlundh, L., Allinier, G., Onyeji, C., Michel, P., Liu, S. W., Jr Camargo, C. A., Lindner, T., Slagman, A., Bates, D. W., Tazarourte, K., & Singer, S. J. (2020). Impact of teamwork and communication training interventions on safety culture and patient safety in emergency departments. Journal of Patient Safety, 18(1), 351–361. https://doi.org/10.1097/pts.0000000000000782
Hanifin, R., & Zielenski, C. (2020). Reducing medication error through a collaborative committee structure: An effort to implement change in a community-based health system. Quality Management in Healthcare, 29(1), 40-45. https://doi.org/10.1097/qmh.0000000000000240
Slade, S., & Sergent, S. R. (2023). Interview techniques. Nih.gov; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526083/
Stanz, L., Silverstein, S., Vo, D., & Thompson, J. (2021). Leading through rapid change management. Hospital Pharmacy, 57(4), 422–424. https://doi.org/10.1177/00185787211046855
NURS FPX 4010 Assessment 2 Interview and Interdisciplinary Issue Identification
Ystaas, L. M. K., Nikitara, M., Ghobrial, S., Latzourakis, E., Polychronis, G., & Constantinou, C. S. (2023). The impact of transformational leadership in the nursing work environment and patients’ outcomes: A systematic review. Nursing Reports, 13(3), 1271–1290. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep13030108
Zaij, S., Maia, Blache, Marson, Kinowski, J.-M., & Richard, H. (2023). Intervention of pharmacist included in multidisciplinary team to reduce adverse drug event: a qualitative systematic review. BioMed Central Health Services Research, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-09512-6