Key indicators of nursing care team performance: insights from the front line.

Abstract

Self-directed nursing care teams (NCTs), comprised of a registered nurse (RN) team leader and two or more non-licensed caregivers, are a key feature of patient-focused care reengineering. In well-functioning teams: (1) role overlap routinely occurs; (2) team members express satisfaction with interpersonal communication; and (3) team members express the belief that their shared purpose--and that of the health care organization--is the patient. Focus groups of team members in two case study hospitals expressed generalized dissatisfaction with performance on all three key imperatives of well-functioning teams, but also generally agreed that team delivery of bedside nursing care can work if properly managed. Based on study findings, recommendations for process improvement are made.

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• Pennsylvania State University US
• Great Valley Center US

Related Publications