TEAMWORK: THE HEART OF ALL NURSING SUCCESS

Teamwork makes the dream work at Arkansas Children’s.

Of all the skills a new nurse must develop, the ability to work within a team is arguably the most critical, especially in a hospital setting. And, as the nursing profession continues to work to expand inclusiveness and diversity in the ranks, the ability to work with people of varying backgrounds is more important than ever before.

“Looking back over my 27 years as a nurse, it was never a surprise to see that every nurse has a strength that they bring to the team,” Barb Erby, nurse manager in orthopedics/neurology for CHI St. Vincent Infirmary in Little Rock, said. “People of all backgrounds, genders, ages and different personalities bring their talents to the table along with their unique work and life experiences. No one on the team is just a secretary, just a tech or just a nurse. We are a nursing team from different backgrounds, but our common goal is to carry out our mission as health care providers to serve those in need of our care.

“Diversity is needed because it builds a united front in your community to display the teamwork that is maintained in a world of uncertainty.”

As any veteran nurse will tell you, no nurse can do it alone in health care, and for new nurses, teamwork is particularly crucial as they work to familiarize themselves with the job and find their stride in a world that’s very different from classroom simulations.

“The most difficult aspect of working in the team environment for new nurses is being overwhelmed,” Delia Litan de los Reyes, clinical supervisor of Float Pool/Clinical Registry at CHI St. Vincent, said. “There are unique challenges in coming on board and not knowing everyone on the team, the processes to follow, how to communicate with physicians and other departments, and how to adjust to rapidly changing situations.

“The most important thing for brand-new nurses to remember as they come into that work environment is to reach out to other members of the team and to their leader. They should not feel alone. We always work together as a team. We have resources and tools that can guide them to achieve their maximum potential and be successful in this profession.”

Nurses have developed a reputation over the years for “eating their young,” but today’s health care professionals say much of that attitude is a thing of the past. Nursing shortages and the high level of accountability for patient outcomes have seen nursing teams evolve to be more supportive of newcomers.

“My organization promotes collaboration among nurses with all levels of experience,” Taylor Steele, clinical instructor with the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Nursing, said. “Currently, I am the least experienced faculty member in the college, but that does not deter my co-workers from listening to my plans or ideas. I have been extremely fortunate to work with amazing nurses over the past seven years, and I truly believe you get out of your team what you put into it.”

Such is not to say that teamwork comes naturally to everyone. Steele said it’s not solely on incumbent members of the team to be inclusive; the new nurse must work hard to fit in and work well with others, too.

“A 12-hour shift is an extremely long time, but it’s especially long when you have to spend it with toxic co-workers,” she said. “A team member who exhibits a sense of entitlement can definitely interfere with the cohesive team environment. These particular team members expect everyone’s help, but they are nowhere to be found when their co-workers are in need. During these times, it is important to use effective communication skills to possibly break down that barrier between you and a difficult co-worker.”

A cooperative spirit is all the more essential when differences in race, gender or ethnic background are added to the mix. Michelle Gonzalez, director of the Nurse Anesthesia Program and clinical associate professor at UAMS College of Nursing, remembers the challenges of fitting in.

“When I was in my undergraduate nursing program, I was the only Hispanic student in the entire college, which was approximately 2,000 students,” she said. “Because there was no one else like me, I tended to make friends with other minorities. Looking back on it, we had a unique microcosm in our friend group, consisting of one Black male, one LGBT male, an Italian and a Latina.

“I felt very different and separate from the majority of white females that attended my nursing program. Living off-campus due to affordability also intensified that feeling of being an outsider. I didn’t feel connected to the university or university life.”

Gonzalez said going through that experience created in her a default attitude of seeking diversity and inclusiveness, something that has only intensified today as she sees more men and people of color entering nursing school.

“I tend to look at people for who they are, as well as their contributions and insights,” she said. “I’m very curious by nature and tend to ask a lot of questions, particularly if I’m not familiar with someone’s culture or customs.

“My frame of thought is, if I can increase my knowledge and awareness of people who are different from me, then I can extend that respect and acknowledgment and be an example for others. Oftentimes we never know what others have been through, but they have overcome and achieved, and those are insights they can bring to benefit the team.”