Group Dynamics in Healthcare: A Personal Reflection and Analysis

This assignment presents a reflective analysis of group dynamics within a healthcare environment, based on a nursing internship experience. The reflection utilizes Gibbs' reflective cycle to examine the student's observations of teamwork, communication, and coordination among healthcare professionals. It details specific experiences, including interactions with patients, physicians, and other staff, and analyzes the impact of these dynamics on patient care and overall efficiency. The analysis highlights both the positive and negative aspects of group interactions, such as effective collaboration versus instances of poor coordination. The student also evaluates their own role within the healthcare team, identifying areas of personal growth and improvement, particularly in communication and interpersonal skills. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of effective group dynamics for delivering patient-centered care and proposes an action plan for future professional development. This assignment is a valuable resource for understanding the complexities of teamwork in healthcare and reflects on the application of Gibbs reflective model.

Group dynamics: Reflection

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GROUP DYNAMICS: REFLECTION
Table of Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................... 2
Different stages of experience............................................................................... 2
Description of the experience.............................................................................2
Feelings and thoughts about the experience.....................................................3
Evaluation of the experience.............................................................................. 3
Analysis of the experience..................................................................................3
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 4
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Introduction
I worked as a healthcare professional in a hospital for six months. I observed the
working practices and interaction level of the colleagues, staff and team
members inside the organisation while dealing any case. ‘Gibbs learning cycle’ is
going to be used to reflect on the practices and behavior adopted by the
healthcare professionals of the hospital. I analysed the concept of group
dynamics in that organisation and I am sharing my experience in terms of
understanding the concept of group dynamics inside my organisation.
Different stages of Gibbs model emphasis on the different aspects of learning
which I obtained inside the organisation.
Different stages of experience
Description of the experience
Group dynamics or teamwork has large and necessary applications in healthcare
settings. In the nurse internship, I have perceived that group dynamics as
important for efficient patients’ centric services in healthcare. A group of
professionals includes nurses, medical specialists, specialized practitioners and
surgeon, therapist and non-medical staff workers. They work together to achieve
a common goal that is overall wellbeing of the people in the community.
Healthcare providers from different cultural and educational backgrounds and
different professions deliver more patients centric services by providing specific
services.
Strong dynamics in healthcare positively affect patient's treatment, recovery,
and wellbeing (MD Merlin, 2020).
In my nursing internship, I have played various roles such as nurse and primary
care provider, a coordinator within various specialist doctors, assistance to
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specialist doctors, and a coordinator between various departments related to
patient healthcare like ward, intensive care unit (ICU), radiology, and pathology
in six months shorter period. I used to assess and monitor the treatment and
side effects of a treatment on the patient (V Anderson, 2020).
I observed a case in which a physician was giving treatment to man who was
suffering from the disease T.B. which was giving a very harmful effect on his
health. I observed that the doctor was analyzing the past reports of the patient
and suggesting him further tests and treatments. On the bases of the symptoms
and reports of the tests, she prescribed the treatment to him and provided him
the necessary precautions and further steps of the treatment (V Anderson,
2020).
Feelings and thoughts about the experience
While playing these roles during the nursing internship, my roles in various
groups like coordination, assessment, assistance care provider have a significant
positive impact on the patients’ health. In the supportive roles, I had gained
experiences with patients and specialized doctors. I used to assist the specialized
doctors by following their instructions for prescribed treatment, monitor the
patient's conditions and identify the necessities of the patient. In social care, I
have visited many people to educate them on health issues and the wellbeing of
all (D Kerr, 2020).
Evaluation of the experience
In the healthcare setting, being a nursing intern, I have perceived the many roles
of nurses and other professionals that are associated with healthcare settings. As
the above discussion people in healthcare settings play numerous roles. Apart
from medical and nursing staff, non-medico employees also play a significant
role in the healthcare sector. In the health care setting employees play various
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GROUP DYNAMICS: REFLECTION
roles in various groups such as the human resources department, housekeeping
department, finance, accounts and insurance department and purchases
department (V Anderson, 2020).
Analysis of the experience
Nursing and medical employees play significant and leading roles in the
healthcare sector. Medical professionals deliver the treatment in required
conditions to patients. Medical professionals play a key and central role in any
healthcare setting. For the specific and more patients’ centric services a group of
medical professional specialist provides the services.
I also analysed a case in which, a patient who is required orthopedic specialist
services for his joint replacement surgery. A team of various processional
specialists will contribute to achieving patient-centric services. Although, the
patients only require an orthopedic service, but pursue this service a
cardiologist, nephrologist, physician, radiologist, pathologist and many more
specialists required to make him fit to go through the joint replacement surgery
(Wolstenholme, 2020).
Besides, a group dynamic of medical professionals and team of nursing
professionals will help him though-out the process. The nursing team will monitor
the fitness of the patient on the given required standard by the specialist
professional. Nursing teams also work as coordinators and communicate with
various departments for necessities like medicines, diet, pre and post-surgery
care, and resting patterns (MD Merlin, 2020).
Conclusion
Adequate integration and coordination within and between various departments
are crucial in the healthcare setting. In my internship period, I experienced that
lack of integration and coordination raises the conflicts. For example, an incident
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I saw in my internship period showed a sheer lack of coordination in the finance
department and operational management department. There was a cardiac
patient who was required an urgent heart surgery. Although medical and nursing
staff was ready for the process, but insurance clearance and inefficiency of the
insurance department were resulted in a delay in the surgery, which had an
adverse impact on the patient’s health (WAL Dayel, 2020).
To be a good and efficient nurse good communication, emotional stability,
working flexibility, and empathy for people, interpersonal and relationship skills,
physical endurance, attention to detail, problem-solving, quick response, and
respect for people are required skills (V Anderson, 2020).
Action Plan
Before the internship, I was not much aware of my attributes, but in the
internship, I find out that I need to work on developing a better communication
and interpersonal skills. I did find it difficult to understand patients' needs and
requirements. Also, I can communicate with other groups and teams for what is
required for the patient's wellbeing (D Kerr, 2020).
Besides, I also have sound emotional stability. During the internship, I have seen
many critical patients, but I was emotionally stable in such cases. The internship
enriched me with flexible working. Earlier, I used to find difficulty in working odd
hours. But nursing internship developed skills for working with the flexibility and
according to patients' need (D Kerr, 2020).
I perceived that group dynamics as an essential aspect of healthcare settings. To
provide quality and patient's centric services coordination and communication
within various groups and teams is also a crucial subject. Internship enriches my
attributes to be a good nurse professional (D Kerr, 2020).
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References
D Kerr, S. M. J. A. C. M., 2020. Challenges for nurses when communicating with
people who have life‐limiting illness and their families: A focus group study.
Journal of clinical nursing.
MD Merlin, S. L. F. G., 2020. Elements of group dynamics that influence learning
in small groups in undergraduate students: A scoping review. Nurse Education
Today.
V Anderson, J. G. J. W., 2020. An evaluation of social learning and learner
outcomes in a massive open online course (MOOC): a healthcare sector case
study. Human Resource Development , pp. 1-30.
WAL Dayel, Y. D. J. M., 2020. To Explore the Effect of Talent Management
Developments in Saudi Healthcare Sector. Management, 8(1), pp. 1-13.
Wolstenholme, E., 2020. System Dynamics Applications to Health and Social
Care in the United Kingdom and Europe. System Dynamics: Theory and
Applications, pp. 229-252.
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GROUP DYNAMICS: REFLECTION
D Kerr, S. M. J. A. C. M., 2020. Challenges for nurses when communicating with
people who have life‐limiting illness and their families: A focus group study.
Journal of clinical nursing.
MD Merlin, S. L. F. G., 2020. Elements of group dynamics that influence learning
in small groups in undergraduate students: A scoping review. Nurse Education
Today.
V Anderson, J. G. J. W., 2020. An evaluation of social learning and learner
outcomes in a massive open online course (MOOC): a healthcare sector case
study. Human Resource Development , pp. 1-30.
WAL Dayel, Y. D. J. M., 2020. To Explore the Effect of Talent Management
Developments in Saudi Healthcare Sector. Management, 8(1), pp. 1-13.
Wolstenholme, E., 2020. System Dynamics Applications to Health and Social
Care in the United Kingdom and Europe. System Dynamics: Theory and
Applications, pp. 229-252.
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