NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 3: Interdisciplinary Plan Proposal
The key issue of this proposal is the problem of Mercy General Hospital (MGH) communication when transitioning patients between shifts. The consequence of data transfer gaps during handoffs is the delay of care, missed significant updates, and an augmented risk of patient safety (Chien et al., 2022). This strategy encourages an interdisciplinary approach to improve communication and expedite handoffs, which is a key focus of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3.
Objective
To bridge the communication gaps through handoff of patients in MGH during shift change, a collaborative framework will be applied as per this proposal. By integrating real-time communication methods, standardizing handoff protocols, and implementing training programs, the approach aims to ensure accurate and timely data transmission, reflecting principles of interdisciplinary theory nursing. By reducing errors, improving team accountability, and encouraging consistency of care across shifts, achieving these goals will maximize MGH performance.
Questions and Predictions
How will the effectiveness of patient handoffs during shift transitions be improved by executing teams?
First, it might take more coordination work to form an interdisciplinary team to enhance patient handoffs at MGH. Nonetheless, the strategy will encourage effective shift handoffs, avoid care delays, and improve patient outcomes by fortifying communication standards, which aligns with the objectives of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3.
What tools are required to improve communication at MGH when patients are being handed off?
To guarantee proper data transfer during handoffs, resources are required, such as SBAR handoff protocols, communication training sessions, integration of SBAR checklists into electronic health
records, and cooperation with clinical and IT teams, which are essential components of interdisciplinary nursing.
In what ways can standardized handoff procedures enhance patient safety and communication?
By facilitating continuous communication across disciplines, standardized handoff processes would guarantee the delivery of vital patient data, lower errors, and enhance patient safety, a key focus of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3.
What are the key measures to assess the plan’s success?
Success will be monitored by monitoring using audits, feedback questionnaires, and key indicators linked to patient handoff communication, coordination, and safety outcomes.
Alongside incident reports, adherence to SBAR and I-PASS protocols will be monitored in order to evaluate communication accuracy and minimize mistakes. The effectiveness of teamwork will be assessed using TeamSTEPPS tools, and progress will be supported by monthly evaluations (Hamm et al., 2021), which is a key component of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3.
Change Theories and Leadership Strategies
The three phases of Kurt Lewin’s change management outline unfreezing, altering, and refreezing, offering a methodical way to improve patient handoff communication at MGH during shift changes, which is the focus of this interdisciplinary proposal (Harrison et al., 2021). The leadership team begins their unfreezing stage by pointing out the risks and negative outcomes of poor handoff communication. This gives the sense of urgency and prepares the employees to change. With the involvement of the structured handoff concepts such as SBAR and I-PASS, supported with standardized checklists to enhance facilitation of such data transfer, the interdisciplinary team proceeds to altering phase. Through leadership involvement, performance reviews, and education, these practices are frozen into standard processes throughout the refreezing phase, serving as an interdisciplinary proposal example. By strengthening teamwork,
guaranteeing accountability, and maintaining patient care continuity, this strategy fosters long-lasting perfection, which aligns with the objectives of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3. An actual instance was observed at Johns Hopkins Hospital, where the implementation of the I-PASS protocol was facilitated by Lewin’s paradigm. By controlling team communication, lowering errors, and improving patient security, this method raised the bar for handoffs (Rehm et al., 2021).
Transformational Leadership Strategy
A strategy for enhancing teamwork during patient handoffs at MGH is proposed by Transformational Leadership (TL) in conjunction with the TeamSTEPPS® (Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety) standard, forming an interdisciplinary plan proposal (Kuriyan et al., 2020). The motivational leadership towards patient safety is to establish common goals focused on the enhancement of handoff communication under the leadership of teams who achieve general goals. To fix specific communication measures regarding handoffs, interdisciplinary input, and determine how to improve the quality of handoffs, leaders are needed.
Through kickoff seminars, which TL facilitates, nurses, doctors, and case managers have experience with standardized handoff checklists and team meetings, which is a focus of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3. According to Kuriyan et al. (2020), TeamSTEPPS® fills in communication gaps and strengthens speech and liability systems.
Leadership at MGH can foster an environment that improves patient care and staff effectiveness. The Mayo Clinic provided an excellent illustration of how TL may enhance handoff communication when leaders used TL values to implement standardized tools. There were fewer misunderstandings during patient handoffs as a result of this strategy’s improved communication (Wallace et al., 2023).
Team Collaboration Strategy
The team at MGH is dedicated to enhancing patient handoff procedures. Executive leaders, communication coordinators, bedside clinicians, and clinical supervisors make up the team.
Clinical supervisors will oversee the implementation of standardized handoff guidelines, monitor compliance, and plan frequent training sessions. According to Hamm et al. (2021), the TeamSTEPPS framework improves communication, mutual aid, and team roles, all of which enhance collaboration. In order to improve abilities, bedside clinicians will take part in interactive simulations and offer insights on the usefulness of handoff protocols, supporting principles of interdisciplinary nursing.
To guarantee that patient updates are delivered, communication coordinators will oversee training sessions and improve message tactics, which supports the goals of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3. By integrating electronic handoff platforms, healthcare professionals will be able to transmit data quickly and reliably, improving communication (Rehm et al., 2021). In order to gauge the long-term success of these initiatives, executive executives will analyze patient care indicators and collect employee input. SBAR and I-PASS outlines will be incorporated into MGH’s plan to strengthen communication coherence. By improving patient updates’ organization and focus, SBAR will facilitate correct data flow (Rehm et al., 2021). These concerted efforts will raise the bar for communication and motivate the pursuit of high-quality patient care results.
Required Organizational Resources
The implementation of MGH’s strategy to improve handoff communication requires resource commitments. Employees will put out effort to oversee the implementation of standardized handoff methods, provide staff training, and evaluate the effectiveness of the program. SBAR and I-PASS practice will be facilitated by existing resources such as electronic systems, online communication platforms, and conference rooms. The estimated expenses could include hiring outside communication specialists ($150–$200 per session) and holding yearly staff development workshops on handoff protocols ($500–$1,000 annually). Although it won’t result in additional expenses, it will be crucial to make use of the current access to patient records, timetables, and handoff tracking reports, which supports this interdisciplinary plan proposal. The
projected yearly cost commitment, which includes meetings, training hours, and audit evaluations, ranges from $15,000 to $20,000. The improvement of handoff procedures and improved departmental communication will be fueled by this grant.
Continuous communication breakdowns could jeopardize patient safety and increase the chance of clinical errors if MGH does not make an effort to improve handoff communication. Inadequate patient transitions put the organization at risk of legal proceedings and compliance violations, delay medication, and interfere with continuity of care (Chien et al., 2022). Due to the loss of important data, staff members experience stress and discontent when handoffs go poorly. Employee morale suffers as a result, and turnover rises. This workforce instability would weaken team cohesion and increase the cost of hiring and onboarding new employees. Furthermore, uneven patient care brought on by inadequate handoff practices may result in decreased patient satisfaction and harm to the hospital’s reputation, a key focus of NURS FPX 4005 assessment 3.
Conclusion
Through the implementation of established procedures, bolstered by teamwork and focused training, this plan seeks to enhance patient handoff communication at MGH. The endeavor will be guided by TL and Kurt Lewin’s change theory. Staffing, training, and digital technologies are among the necessary resources, and audits and feedback will be used to assess success. Inadequate execution of this plan may result in poor worker morale, communication breakdowns, and hazards to patient safety, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary nursing.
References
Chien, L. J., Slade, D., Dahm, M. R., Brady, B., Roberts, E., Goncharov, L., Taylor, J., Eggins, S., & Thornton, A. (2022). Improving patient‐centred care through a tailored intervention addressing nursing clinical handover communication in its organizational and cultural context. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 78(5), 1413–1430. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15110
Hamm, B., Pozuelo, L., & Brendel, R. (2021). General hospital agitation management under the lens of leadership theory and health care team best practices using TeamSTEPPS. Journal of the Academy of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, 63(3), 213–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaclp.2021.10.007
Harrison, R., Fischer, S., Walpola, R. L., Chauhan, A., Babalola, T., Mears, S., & Le-Dao, H. (2021). Where do models for change management, improvement, and implementation meet? A systematic review of the applications of change management models in healthcare. Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 13(2), 85–108. https://doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S289176
Kuriyan, A., Kinkler, G., Cidav, Z., Kang-Yi, C., Eiraldi, R., Salas, E., & Wolk, C. B. (2020). TeamSTEPPS to improve collaboration in school mental health: Protocol for a mixed- method hybrid effectiveness-implementation study. JMIR Research Protocols, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.2196/26567
Rehm, C., Zoller, R., Schenk, A., Müller, N., Nerschbach, N., Zenker, S., & Schindler, E. (2021).
Evaluation of a paper-based checklist versus an electronic handover tool based on the Situation Background Assessment Recommendation (SBAR) concept in patients after surgery for congenital heart disease. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(24), 5724. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10245724
Wallace, L. A., Schuder, K. K., Loeslie, V., Hanson, A. C., Ongubo, C., Chiarelly, E., Schalla, G., Meek, K. H., & Springer, D. (2023). Improving communication in the medical intensive care unit through standardization of handoff format: A quality improvement project. Mayo Clinic Proceedings: Innovations, Quality & Outcomes, 7(4), 301–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2023.05.006
