NFDN 2008

Unit 1: Roles and Responsibilities of the

Graduate Practical Nurse

Topic 1.3
Professional Communication and
Team Building
 Class Objectives
• Explore professional communication; factors that can
hinder and how to manage.
• Explore team building; characteristics of an effective team
and its members.
• Explore the process of Reflective Practice and apply to
nursing.
• Application of team work through a group exercise and
discussion.

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 Appreciative Inquiry (AI)

How can it contribute to positive

professional communication?

Examples???

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 Communication
• Essential to clinical practice, to building teams and to
leadership.
• A continuous process of expressing thoughts, ideas,
opinions and emotions.
Once a message is sent it
cannot be retracted, it
can be amended, but the
first impression is usually
lasting.

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Communication
• What is the definition of communication?
• SBAR
• What are communication rhythms?
• What are non-communication rhythms?
 Guidelines For Effective Communications
• Approach as if the other • Acknowledge praise and
has no knowledge of encourage the other person
effective communication • Present messages in a way the
• Assume responsibility for other person can receive them
sender- receiver rhythm • Take responsibility for issues
• Be self-revealing. Share you may have with another and
thoughts speak as if its your problem also
• Use casual conversation • Use language equality even
to build relationship when position titles are not of
the same level
Guidelines for Active Listening
• What is active listening?
• How do you actively listen?
• What are some examples of active listening
words/phrases?
Hindering Professional Communication

• Communication Pitfalls
• Communication Barriers
• Factors that hinder effective communication
 Poor communication leads to relationship
breakdowns, misunderstandings, high levels
of emotions, judgements and an excess of
drama.

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 Six “P”s of Social Media
• Keep it POSITIVE
• Maintain PRIVACY of others
• Keep It PROFESSIONAL
• Keep it PERSON free-no specific reference to others
• Protect your PROFESSIONALISM
• Always PAUSE before POSTING

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 Groups and Teams
Groups are not teams.
Groups are people that come together and have a common
relationship.

Teams are a group of people working together towards a

common purpose and are accountable to one another

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 Healthcare Teams
• What teams have you experience in your clinical
experience?
• What made them successful?
• What made them non-successful?

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 Amanda’s Story

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 Types of Teams
• Inter-disciplinary Teams
• Inter-professional Teams
• Manager-led Teams
• Self-managing Teams
• Self-directed Teams
• Self-governing Teams

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 Healthcare Teams
Interdisciplinary Teams
• Work alongside one another
• May or may not collaborate on
care
• Team members have specialized
knowledge and skills
• Members have specific role in
care
Interprofessional Teams
• Work together
• Work towards common goals
• Divide work base on scope of
practice
• Share information
• Support each other’s work
 Collaborative Practice
Nursing Collaboration
• All add value to the team and support
the creation of synergy
• Complex, voluntary, and dynamic
process with underlying concepts of
power, interdependency, sharing,
partnership and process
• Collaboration, interdisciplinary teams
should be able to accomplish more than
working alone or in tandem
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Collaborative Practice
• Inter-professional process for
communication and decision
making that enables the separate
and shared knowledge and skills
of the care providers to
synergistically influence the
client/patient care provided
 What is Synergy?

• The combined effort is more than what each

person is individually capable
• How does this apply to the Practical Nurse Role?
• How does this apply to nursing practice?

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 Characteristics of Teams
Effective Teams
• Comfortable with disagreement
• Open to discussion
• See Conflict as a way to promote
Change
• Frequent self-regulation
• Leadership shared
• Respectful listening
• Focused discussion
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Ineffective Teams
• Uncomfortable with disagreement
• The team dynamics allow persons
to dominate
• Judgemental
• Unclear objectives and
assignments
• Scope of Practice blurred
 Team Development
• In groups and out groups
• Power and control
• Using, developing and being appreciated
• Ground rules
• Trust

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 How can Team Building Enhance
Team Function?
- The establishment of goals and objectives.
- The allocation of the work to be performed.
- The manner in which teams make decisions.
- The relationships among the people doing the
work.
- Clearly define performance expectations and team
outcomes.
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 Why is managing your emotions important for effective team building?

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 Questions
????

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