Importance of Teamwork in Healthcare: A Theoretical Analysis

This article discusses the importance of teamwork in healthcare and provides a theoretical analysis of a clinical experience where teamwork failed. The article highlights the significance of communication, mutual trust, respect, and effective feedback sharing in achieving effective teamwork. The article also emphasizes the importance of following Tuckman's group development process for effective teamwork.

Running head: TEAMWORK
TEAMWORK
Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author note:

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Introduction
Teamwork in healthcare can be defined as one two or more people who engage in
different interactions interdependently with a common purpose working towards the various
measurable goals that help in providing the best care to the patients meeting all their
requirements and needs (Cassimiro et al., 2015). This assignment would mainly include an
incidence where there was a failure in teamwork and would simultaneously describe the
necessary theory that would help to discuss the teamwork issues effectively.
Description of Clinical Experience
During my clinical placement, I was one of the team member who was caring for a
patient who has faced stroke and was currently in the medical ward. I was given the
responsibility to be an active member of a team of healthcare professionals who was to treat and
provide care to the patient. A team of four nurses and two experts were formed for attending the
patient. We were called by phone and assigned our work by care coordinator, who was leading
the team. However, the family members of the patient was seen to complain to the compliant
department stating that the healthcare team did not care for the patient and there were events of
missed medications, wring treatments, clash between experts and nurses and unprofessional
behavior in front of the patient. Following such complaint, care coordinator called the team
members to enquire about the issues that took place. I was shocked to see that all the members
were blaming each other for their faults. Many of the members stated that their team members
did not communicate them. This resulted in the medication errors, missed treatments and others.
A complete loss of communication was noticed among the team members. Moreover, there was
no bonding among the members of the team and as a result, effective feedbacks could not be

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shared. I got very scared when I saw that there were so much conflicts and power struggles
among the team members. So many issues ultimately resulted in very poor outcome when my
mentor diagnosed the condition of the patient and stated that her condition had deteriorated
mainly due to poor treatment and carelessness. The teamwork entirely failed and I got very upset
and lost my confidence.
Theoretical Analysis/Application
Tuckman’s theory of teamwork or group development helped me in analyzing the
mistakes that I have conducted while carrying on the teamwork. Tuckman had proposed five
important stages of teamwork out of which the first stage is called the forming (Weller et al.,
2014). In this stage, the team is mainly seen to acquaint and thereby take part in establishment of
different types of ground rules. In this step, formalities are preserved and the members are
mainly seen to be acting as strangers. The care coordinator completely neglected the step and did
not put any importance in the development of ground rules for the team members. The care
coordinator did not set any disciplinary rules as well and therefore all the members were found to
be confused. Moreover, the care coordinator did not have any introductory meetings. The team
members were not introduced to one another and therefore they faced problems as they did not
know with whom they were working (Rosen et al., 2014). The second step is called the storming
stage where the members of the team is seen to communicate their feelings but still they
visualize themselves as individuals rather than as part of the team. In this step, they are seen to
resist the control by group leaders. They are also seen to show hostility. This step was also not
conducted successfully. No initiatives were taken, where the members of the team would have
got the opportunity for developing rapport with each other or got have the opportunity to
communicate with each others. Researchers are of the opinion that better, the individuals

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communicate, the better will be the bonds between them and this will help in developing mutual
trust and respect (Rafalko & Johnson, 2015). These aspects are important for working in a
collaborative manner to bring out the best care for the patient. The care coordinator held no
meetings weekly that would have given the scope of constructive feedback sharing among the
members. Such sessions are important for developing bonds as well. The next step is called the
norming stage. In this stage, members of the team learn that they can achieve the set of goals if
they accept the viewpoints of the other members and start feeling as the part of the team. As the
previous step was not conducted successfully, I noticed that the people of the group did not
communicate with each other successfully. They were constantly blaming each other and had no
emotional as well as professional attachments with each other. As the team members did not
communicate with each other, therefore errors, missed and clinical accidents were higher in
number for the patients (Amir et al., 2015). They did not have any emotional bonds with each
other and could not support each other in times of needs. Therefore, they were found to be
suffering from burnouts. They were also blaming each other and were not wanting to work in
association with each other. They did not feel to be committed to the team and were easily seen
to be working individually rather than as teamwork. Therefore, there was no coordination and
hence it resulted in several errors during the treatment. The last step was the performing stage
where the team works in the open as well as the trusting environment where flexibility is the key
and hierarchy is of little importance (Schumtz, Welp & Kolbe, 2016). As not all the previous
steps had been performed successfully, therefore effective bonds and attachments were not
formed. Members were not comfortable in each other’s presence and this inculcated to failure of
coordination. This resulted in failed teamwork. Flexibility was not observed and in place power
struggles was present that affected not only communication but also the members did not share

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the burden of work with each other. The seniors and the juniors did not communicate with each
other and hence the failure in their collaboration had negative outcomes of their patients.
Adjourning is the last step where the team is seen to conduct assessment of the year and thereby
resulted in implementation of the plan for transitioning the roles and recognizing the
contributions of the members. The teamwork did not successfully reach this stage as failure was
noted after few days only.
Implications for Professional Practice and Management
One of the most important aspects of teamwork is communication. When team members
are seen to communicate with each other efficiently, there will be fewer occurrences of
medication errors. Moreover waiting time of the patients will be less as the experts would
communicate and attend the patients accordingly without missing any treatments and services.
Better the communication among the members, there will be chance of better development of
bonds among the members. This will result in effective coordination and collaboration among
the members and would result in effective teamwork and efficient patient care. Better the
teamwork; there would be mutual respect and trust among the members (Lundgren & Molander,
2017). This would result in reduction of stress and work burden among the members. This
prevents workers from suffering from burnouts and thereby increases the efficiency and the
productivity of the team. Better, the teamwork, it becomes easier for the members to not only
meet their individual objectives but also to meet the team goal as a whole. Moreover, the team
members should be free from any sort of power struggles. Power struggles not only disrupt the
smooth workflow but also creates negative feeling among the members against each other. This
prevents the formation of emotional attachments among the team members that is also one of the
most important aspects necessary for teamwork. When teamwork becomes efficient, it results in

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the prevention of medical errors and increases efficiency of care. When teams sit together and
exchanges feedback on the conditions of the patient and proposed different ideas, chances of
effective care from meetings increases and this ensures that the best evidence based care is
provided to patients (Mijakoski et al., 2018). Moreover, effective teamwork helps in planning
different intervention with the professionals in a coordinated manner and chances of miss-outs
decreases. It helps in the improvement of the patient responsiveness and helps in development of
overall satisfaction of the patients. Principle 10 needs to be followed by every health
professionals as instructed by SINGAPORE NURSING BOARD where professionals need to
work collaboratively with all members of the healthcare team to ensure best outcomes on the
health of the patient (Singapore Nursing Board, Code For Nurses And Midwives, 2018).
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it becomes clear that the teamwork is an important aspect that
is directly and indirectly associated with the success of patient care increasing patient
satisfaction. For effective teamwork, communication, mutual trust, respect and effective
feedback sharing are extremely important. Moreover, it is also important for the team leaders to
follow the process of Tuckman’s group development to ensure best work output. Better the
teamwork, the higher is patient satisfaction and the organization reaches the zenith of success.

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