HealthCare : Multidisciplinary Team Case Study

Running head: CASE STUDY
Case study
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

1CASE STUDY
In the field of health care, interdisciplinary team collaboration is crucial to improve
patient outcomes, reduce mortality and morbidity rates and optimize treatment. It is identified as
a key strategy for health care reforms and the role of each individual is vital in promoting high
quality of care (Bosch and Mansell 2015). Apart from physicians and other support members,
registered nurses (RNs) have a great role in collaborating with the health care team. Moss,
Seifert and O’Sullivan (2016) argue that currently RNs have better opportunities for
interprofessional collaboration and their professional scope and standards of practice also give
them the authority to actively take part in team collaboration process. The registered nurse
standards of practice by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) suggest the need
for RNs to take part or lead in collaborative practice (NMBA 2017). RNs can engage in this role
by adapting the principles of clinical leadership skills, which includes point-of-care innovation,
problem solving skills , communication and leadership building skills (Joseph and Huber 2015).
The purpose of this essay is to evaluate the case study of Mrs Konstantina Galanos and discuss
the role of the registered nurse in a collaborative health care team. The essay will analyse how
registered nurse can work with the multidisciplinary team to influence patient outcome and
maintain patient safety.
To reflect on the role of RNs as leader in the case study, the critical reflection will be
done based on the steps such as considering patient situation, collecting cues and information,
process information, establishing goals, taking action and evaluation. The case study is about
Mrs Konstantina Galanos, a 79 year old widow living who was admitted to the general
orthopaedic ward for a planned left lower leg amputation, after she was found with three
gangrenous toes and infected ulcer of her heel. To identify the health related care priorities for
Mrs Galanos, reviewing her patient history and handover report was important. She was found to
have a history of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure and hypertension.
Her past medical history revealed that she underwent hemicolectomy for bowel cancer and she
required a permanent colostomy. She has self-managed her care on her own since the last two
years. Currently, she is confined to her home and dependent on her daughter and family for
assistance in daily life activities.
Based on the analysis of patient details and past and current medical history, it can be
said that the most important care priority is to reduce anxiety and distress level of Mrs Galanos,

2CASE STUDY
as she was planned to have lower left amputation. Despite Anna’s reassurance, she is very
anxious. Hence, the most important nursing priority will be to address her distress level. This is
important as unless this is addressed, managing the patient during hospital stay will be difficult.
She may not respond to treatment too, if she does not have clear idea about the rationale for her
treatment. Pre-operative anxiety is a common issue in the patients going for surgery and the goal
of nursing care should be to provide better environment and quality of life to such patients both
before and after surgery. This would be possible by giving education about the surgical
procedure and the benefits obtained due to it (Mulugeta et al. 2018). Moreover, as Mr. Galanos is
a patient with history of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, she needs extra assessment before
surgery. Her blood glucose monitoring should be prioritised during hospital stay to prevent any
risk to patient. In addition, the third care priority will be to ensure continuity of self-care of her
permanent coleostomy even during hospital stay. This would mean ensuring proper timing of
changing pouch of stoma and considering the stoma while providing daily living assistance to
patient. This consideration is important because the patient with permanent coleostomy requires
change in the need of rest and they may require additional support to avoid leakage from stoma
bag and prevent irritation (Alwi 2018).
Apart from the above care priorities, there are certain informations that should be known
to all the multi-disciplinary health care team, while dealing with Mrs Galanos at hospital. For
example, knowledge about the history of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and permanent
coleostomy should be known to all the members of the health care team. To ensure the safety of
the patient and ensuring proper outcome, the nurse can demonstrate leadership by being active
participants of care and informing all members about current physical, psychological and
language needs of client. For example, to address the patient distress level, RNs can act as the
leader by acting as the collaborative partner and showing advocacy in relation to patient safety.
They need to demonstrate professionalism and patient-centred care values during the process.
For example, Mrs Galanos medical chart revealed mid-range understand of English. Hence, the
RN must ensure arranging a team meeting so that all staffs are made aware about extra
communication needs with the patient. RN needs to actively lead and participate in care
decisions so that best quality care could be provided to patient. Altman et al. (2016) explains
regarding the nurses role as a leader by showing that they need to lead all coordinating efforts.
Hence, in the context of Mrs Galanos too, the nurse can start with making all staffs aware about