I am not sure whether nurse bullying is any different than bullying reported by any other profession. Maybe it just seems a little shocking that bullying can happen in what is considered a profession of compassionate and trustworthy people. The Joint Commission presents a good summary of nurse bullying and its potential affect on patient care, Bullying Has No Place in Health Care. Workplace Bullying in Nursing gives another insight into this topic. Regarding this article, I would like to take a stand against the author's statement that "women sometimes can act malicious towards one another," as a cause for bullying. Maybe it's me - but this statement sounded a bit sexist in its tone.
Questions
- Give an example of workplace violence and how this type of bullying might interfere with patient care.
- What are some of the potential long-term affects of being bullied at work?
Discussion Question
Could the opposite of bullying be teamwork? I really enjoyed this inspirational short read about how geese interact with each other. Which "Goose or Geese Lesson(s)" reminds you of a nursing experience you have had that exemplified great teamwork? Five Things Geese Can Teach Us About Teamwork
Please send your answers or questions to melissa.luebbe@ctca-hope.com.
This is the fourth of five articles for Journal Club 2017-18.
Teamwork can be the opposite of bullying. I think by working together, committing to helping one another and being supportive of one another makes it hard to bully one another. I think the challenge is that nurses have to have some control to be a really good nurse. Often we second guess and double check everything. I think the controlling behavior we have can lead to bullying whether or not it is intentional. We may want to take over a task ourselves if it is not being done to our expectation hurting someone else's feelings. Or, we may correct them in a belittling manner rather than in teaching manner. If we act like the geese and pick someone up and support them when they fall short taking some of the burden from them allowing them to recover, we will do a better job of not bullying. We all have off days and should allow someone to fly in the lead position when we are not up to it and we should take the lead when a fellow stakeholder falls short and needs our support. It is hard to bully someone when you set your mind to working as a team and when you know they are here for you when you need them.
ReplyDeleteHi Patricia!
DeleteGood point about nurses being a little bit OCD. I know I for one have a hard time being a preceptor sometimes because I am so particular with things. I always have to remember to take a step back and remember that they are learning just like I once was and that support is the best thing for a new nurse! Thanks for sharing this!
Excellent points Patricia, building a trusting relationship with all team members helps to have a cohesive and smooth running center. I find that being specific and direct can sometimes be perceived as "bulling", but it is never intended to belittle or demean anyone. With all the tasks expected and the fast pace of the clinic teamwork is the only way complete things and give the best care possible to patients.
DeleteWhat excellent points from all of you guys. I feel sometimes when you are invested in the patient and their care; being passionate can come across as being intimidating, a "know it all" or controlling. I think communication is key and sometimes taking a deep breath and watching tone can go along way. But at the end of the day, we all need each other and we all have the same goal of taking care of the patient in the best way we can.
DeleteGood words, all. Sounds like we need to continually be cognizant of our delivery, delivery, delivery!
DeleteI agree, it is all in the delivery of what you say, the choice of words used, along with your tone of voice and body language as well that we all need to be mindful of when talking to our fellow stakeholders. Thank you all for the teamwork you show every day!
DeleteBrenda Chiappetta
Wound care
Geese rotating leadership would be the example I would relate most to. There are good and bad days and working as a team we try to compliment on another working together. Some days one person on the team takes the lead while on other days another person on the team takes the lead. Depending on the strengths and weakness of the team dynamics this can change on a dime depending on the situation and circumstances. Working together as a team instead of bullying one another despite the differences in knowledge and experience makes for a better team dynamic and a better experience for the patients. Not to say that at times there is not friction it does happen but overall the team works very well together.
ReplyDeletePam,
DeleteI agree and I think in the times where there may be more stress and friction, someone on the team should tale the lead and politely tell another team member to go use the renewal room and de-stress for 15 minutes and try to rotate that with each stakeholder on the team that day so everyone can de-stress. I think that will help with the friction levels as well.
Thank you.
Brenda Chiappetta
Wound care
The opposite of bullying is being caring, encouraging, being polite, reassuring, soothing, being collected and composed which is teamwork. “Geese honking at each other” reminds me of our clinic and awesome teamwork. Communication is key to a good flowing work day. Especially since we are seeing patients every 20 minutes, and we are moving quickly. It is very important for each of us to communicate regularly with each other throughout the entire day so that nothing is missed, and our clinic day is effective.
ReplyDeleteBrenda,
DeleteGood communication is so essential in reaching a common goal. Without good, succinct communication of vital information, nursing would be impossible. As nurses, we rely on each other to provide information about the patient, the situation at hand and the means to reach our goals. Becoming a good communicator takes practice and experience and is an invaluable skill/tool that we use everyday to provide quality care to patients in an efficient manner. Great post. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
Geese honk at each other. I have found that when cliques or factions of nurses form relationships that are separate from the entire team, the department does not function as efficiently or to its' full potential. When cliques form, adverserial relationships can result. Different groups may then work against eachother rather than towards the common, ultimate goal: providing high quality nursing care in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. I have also seen the best examples of teamwork in action as a nurse in the department of surgery. If an emergency case is added and time is of the essence, all hands are on deck and it is a beautiful thing to witness everyone coming together to get the operation underway as quickly as possible.
ReplyDeleteHi John,
DeleteI like your example here of an emergency add on case and how the teamwork flows. It truly is amazing how everyone comes together for the common goal and helps one another out. I feel like our facility really embodies this and I love it! Thanks for sharing!
Hi John! I definitely agree that we as a group needs to have the ultimate goal of providing high quality nursing care for our patients. We need to put our pride away and focus on teamwork all the time =)
DeleteHi Everyone,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this little article. My favorite was the last one, geese help each other. One unique thing about the nurses in my unit are that we always help each other and sense when one of us is drowning or having a rough time. Patients will say sometimes "Do I have 4 nurses today?" and I almost take that as a compliment because how special is it that all of our staffed nurses willingly go in to help any patient at any time? The patient's feel special that so many people are caring for them, and that we get to know every one of them on the floor so well. The environment of the floor can be stressful, but the teamwork and family that we have is unlike any other!
Stephanie Graham
this is great to hear, sounds like there is a lot of support of each other.
DeleteStephanie,
DeleteI totally agree with your statement about the nurses on the medical oncology unit! What a great group! We really do work well together and I am grateful for all of you! You are right about the patients recognizing how many nurses go in their rooms. Sometimes they will ask, "Oh, are you my nurse now?" I think especially the new patients coming from other hospitals don't realize that all the nurses are there to take care of all the patients, not just the ones they were assigned to.
Thank you for sharing this article. Believe it or not, I have long witnessed this geese's formation when they are happily flying and also noted that when they become out of formation, they can always readily get back into shape as quickly as a finger snap. How impressive the message they convey regarding teamwork. In healthcare, working as a team is crucial aspect in providing quality care to our patients. No matter what we think or do the central focus of our day is always our patients. If we fall off the crack it is always the patients who suffer the consequences. I would say it is all about agreeing and discussing what works best for that specific day. Not all days are identical and things happen at any time, meaning it is unpredictable healthcare we are facing these days. So, bring your best every day and help one another as a team!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Nen. working together with one goal , our patients
DeleteNen,
DeleteI agree the providing quality care to our patients, is crucial to teamwork. This thinking ties in with our Mother Standard of Care. If each of us would remember why we do what we do every day, the concept and efficacy of team work would flourish.
I enjoyed all of the articles, my favorite was the "5 THINGS GEESE CAN TEACH US ABOUT TEAMWORK" This article can pertain to something as broad as what is going on in the world today to as specific as what is happening in our own work environments. The clinic centers have been through many changes in the last 1-2 years the roles have changed and will continue to evolve. Building a strong team and working cohesively can be challenging, which I'm sure many of us have felt. Working and communicating with each other is essential, but it is necessary to help build teamwork!
ReplyDeleteI agree Laura. Our Radiation team definitely had to learn to adjust to the changes that happened in our area. I really believe that we work together more as a team now than we ever did before!
DeleteLaura I agree with you about the transitions over the last couple of years and the role changes. It has made us have to work more cohesively to accomplish our daily goals and continue to provide the mother standard of care to our patients. Working together as a team makes a huge difference in how the day flows.
DeleteLaura,
ReplyDeleteHealthcare on a whole has changed so much in the last couple of years. At the ONS conference on Saturday the example of “teamwork”’really resonated with me when Chris Peters explained the how and the whys of the insurance companies. We are all here for the patient but need to work with “all teams” and understand the reasoning behind some decisions. Saturday opened my eyes to the team as a whole from the insurance company to the physician, nurse ...
I agree Pat-Chris' presentation was really interesting:-)
DeleteTeamwork is evolving in areas that were unheard of when I started Nursing. When my Mom was in the hospital their ICU is partnered with a telemedicine group . The camera comes on in the room, discussion with the nurse and the telemedicine team. Teamwork is becoming more than the physical person on your unit. Teamwork with the utilization of telemedicine is our future. Teams are changing, working together and the patient does not have to wait for the consult (leader) to physically come in. The rotation of the leader is like a fine oiled machine. If you have not seen telemedicine in action in a hospital it is amazing.
ReplyDeletePat, this sounds really interesting and would be so helpful when trying to discuss a patient's condition with a doctor. Being able to essentially video conference with a team during the night would be great because not only would they be able to look at test results in real time, being able to see someone's face while discussing them could probably help alleviate some of the misunderstandings that occur over the phone with a tired doc in the middle of the night!
DeleteWhat a great idea! It sounds like its such a great support for the nurses and for the patient. I can think of several occasions earlier in my career when telemedicine would have been a valuable resource to have.
DeleteI would love to look into this arena of working together and sharing with the whole time what is truly going on with the patient. Thanks for sharing Pat. I also agree with your comments regarding Chris Peters. That is a very difficult area when dealing with insurance approvals and very time consuming. I too had my eyes opened to what teamwork really needs to be and not criticizing all the time. Which when it comes out can sound like "bullying".
DeleteI really would like to see this telemedicine in our hosp. It will be awesome!!
DeleteThe interactions and behavioral patterns between geese are an excellent example that demonstrates the importance of a functioning team. I found it helpful and interesting that the geese rotate leadership. I feel this is an important lesson that we can all share. As nurses, we must not forget that we are all working towards a common goal, providing optimal patient care. All too often, we need to take a step back and look at the big picture. It can be easy to forget where we came from and that no task is beneath us or our position. We must all help one another and work together when providing patient care. Additionally, allowing suggestions from other team members can be helpful and we need to listen to input from all sources. Decisions should be shared and not come from one single individual. Lastly, I love that the geese will fall back to help protect one another when injured or hurt. We must do the same for our coworkers and step in when help is needed.
ReplyDeleteYes Jennifer, at the end of the day, we are a family in our little area especially and love and support each other:-)
DeleteGeese helping each other is probably the teamwork aspect I can most readily identify with. A crazy busy night can be made or broken by a unit's ability to utilize teamwork. Two examples that come to mind are when our stem cell patients have a Rituxan reaction or spike a fever. No matter how busy we are, we help the nurse whose patient is having the issue. Even something as simple as pulling an antibiotic or taking a lab downstairs can be immensely helpful and makes sure the patient is being attended to in the most timely and safe manner. Without teamwork like this, it would make everyone's job that much harder.
ReplyDeleteSo true Trina! Thanks for being my work buddy and always helping me when I need you!!
DeleteGeese honking at each other spoke to me. On a busy night in stem cell it is not uncommon for the nurses to not even see each other as we are busy passing meds and assessing our patients. The times we do see each other we make eye contact and give a quick eyebrow raise (honk) to check if all is ok and on we continue. Without the support of our co-workers we would certainly fly out of formation and the job would be so much harder.
ReplyDeleteReading the "5 teachables" about the geese I had to laugh a little bit. The similarities to a crew of geese and our area in Rad Onc is striking:-) The "communication/noise" can be almost deafening some days but if you listen in on a particular conversation, it has a purpose, like all the others. In comparison to the rotation of the geese as they travel to their destination, we too "jockey for position" especially on busy days when the schedule is full and/or we are short staffed. We ideally work as teams but many times cross team lines to assist in getting the work done. I guess you could say it is organized chaos?
ReplyDeleteJulie, I agree that just by listening and being observant of your surroundings and then taking it upon yourself to help another because you have identified it is what is best for the patient is a great quality and makes for a much better day for all involved.
DeleteI have worked in many parts of the hospital so I agree with Julie about the noise levels, but they never seem to bother me. I am fortunate and blessed to work on a team that functions very smoothly because we always help one another and we are actually protective of one another. Each member on our team is just as important as the next, just like a flock of geese
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this article. I loved learning all of the reasons that geese fly in that V formation. I do believe that a lot can be learned about teamwork from this article. I really like Geese Honking at each other. In the chaos of a day,in any area of nursing, communication really is so important. Without it things can become way more complicated and several people can be working on the same issues, unnecessarily. Utilizing communication also helps to know when and where someone needs help to complete a task.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Tina. Communicate, and say no to double-work!
DeleteI really enjoyed the article as well. I also did not know that 2 geese will drop from formation to help the ailing goose. It really resonated with me. It lead me to think how we all rally to help each other out. I honestly did not see teamwork until I started at CTCA. It is one of the many reasons why CTCA is my chosen place to work, it is because of the people here!!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comment on rallying together. We demonstrated this recently with the Magnet prep and interactions with the appraisers. We really rallied with teamwork to be successful. Some lead then others took the lead while others fell back for some interactions, allowing various staff to shine, leading us to the final destination, a very good place indeed.
DeleteSame with me Chris, the teamwork here is real! Which makes life (job) easier. I think we all have great relationships in and out of our clinics. We treat each other with respect and offer our help before it is asked. I enjoy coming to work :)
Deletei really enjoyed this article because i learned a lot from this. I loved watching them when they are flying in that V formation and often wonder why they are doing that. now i understand . If these geese can do it , we as humans can do it better.Communication is very important and working together, we can learn so much from these geese, supporting each other, helping the ones that need help.working together with one goal in mind
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Vilma, communication is very important to everyone whether personal or work environment.Goals will be achieved if we communicate to each other. The geese story is a very good example & we should learn from them.
DeleteThis was a great article find! I can relate to the one "when geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it" due to what I see in our surgical department. When one of our patient is distressed upon waking up from surgery, we all come together to lend a hand. It not only gives great care for the patient but also decreases the stress of the nurse who has that patient.
ReplyDeleteTrue story Camille...Helping hands happens everyday in PACU..
DeleteThat's very true I could not ask for a better team than what we have! Teamwork makes work so easy.
DeleteTEAMWORK= PACU. Always a pleasure with you team.
DeleteI enjoyed that article! I would have to say I relate to when geese honk at each other. This exemplifies the communication that is important between teams in the work place. When their is adequate communication between team members and all are working together, more gets done and all members feel supported. Wen you you support each other the outcome is more positive and their is no scenario to great to handle. Their is no greater quality than communication.
ReplyDeleteI second the comment on how communication is the most important skill to have among team members. I have been told by all administrators in healthcare that over 90% of ALL problems occur due to improper communication.
DeleteI was one not to communicate every small detail to my fellow colleagues, for the sake of only communicating the "important" information and not to burden others with the "minor" details.
The more experience I gain, my view of only communicating the minimum has changed to the view that we can't communicate enough, even the smallest details lead to better understanding, which leads to decreased conflicts/problems in the workplace. This results in greater safety of the ones we serve, greater safety of our colleagues and greater safety for ourselves.
I agree, Elisha, that communicating even the "smallest details leads to a better understanding..." It can sometimes be difficult to communicate to others who do not want or have time to hear "the smallest details." It is more the exception than the rule here, thank goodness.
DeleteI remember watching the video about the geese back during the riff and our leadership team wanted to take a moment to talk about how by being a part of an effective team equals greater communication, improve outcomes, and happiness. An example that I can use from our clinic would be when anyone is out of the office unexpectedly and another team members steps up without hesitation to assist. We also celebrate each others achievements - weddings, pregnancies, education advancements, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great article! I have the pleasure of working with some of the best nurses in the Infusion center. There are nurses that rotate in a charge role capacity so not any one nurse is a charge nurse all the time. (This gives them a break) We work together in mods so each mod has 2-3 nurses assigned. The nurses in those mods work together and when the need arises they branch out and help in other areas of the infusion center such as helping with a specific treatment such as digna cap or midline insertion. I am very proud of the infusion center and the way that I can truly correlate our work flow as the geese in flight!
ReplyDeleteI especially like the flying together concept of geese-I feel that this teamwork philosophy really underscores all the other points. Man, it feels good when you're on a team that works as a team. And often, it's just the little, "how ya doin'?" check-ins with each other that mean so much. Sometimes that coworker cannot do what you need to get done (charting, etc). But it's nice to know they are there. And sometimes they CAN step in and complete a task, make a call, or do something concrete to help you out. We truly are all in this together. We will all have our good and bad days. I'm grateful to work in a place with so many team-centered "geese" :)
ReplyDeleteGreat point Jen! Checking in with each other is so important! Sometimes it's nice to hear a coworker ask how your doing to know that they care and help you if needed.
DeleteAll of the lessons resonate with me and the medical oncology unit team. I have never worked with a group of individuals who care for one another as we do and who work so well together. I like the lesson on how geese rotate leadership. Whether it be a charge nurse, staff nurse, or manager, we all rotate and step up when we need to. Several of the nurses help the manager out with deadlines, staffing, or projects. The role of the charge nurse is also rotated to prevent burnout. I know personally, even when I am charge for the day, my fellow coworkers step up to help and don’t rely on me for every decision or problem faced. I know that other nurses are stronger in some situations and I am not afraid to ask for help. Working so closely with everyone also allows us to get to know each other and our strengths and weaknesses so we know who we can ask for help in different situations.
ReplyDeleteI read the "5 things Geese can teach us about teamwork" to my family at dinner last Friday. Both my wife and daughter enjoyed it and learned from it, as I did. I am like most of the readers that liked the 2 geese staying with the injured goose. This is a great example that leads us to introspect ourselves- do we take care of our family?
ReplyDeleteI have 3 families. My blood relationships/friends/loved ones, my work family and my church family. If we want to work towards a common cause/purpose, then we need to, like the Geese, take care of our fallen family. Thank you for the great article! Always with love-we have to do everything in love, otherwise it doesn't work.
Great comparisons between the geese formations and teamwork with people. In our department, I see the injured goose scenario with our nurses protecting and escorting an overwhelmed team to safety. When one nurse is double/triple booked with patient procedures/assignments, others come to the rescue. Patient appointments are shared so no one is overwhelmed. When someone is ill, needs to stay home, we do not place guilt or cause shame, we jump in, pick up that team of patients, and reassure the nurse all will be fine, stay home as long as necessary, we have your back. We recently had a nurse work on her birthday, but she hoped to leave early. We took over her team so she could leave early. Taking care of others is what we excel at, we need to do that with with colleagues... like the geese.
ReplyDeleteThat is a great example of team work! and you're right taking care of each other is what we need to do with colleagues. This helps to build better relationships in the workplace, it makes your job easier and enjoyable/happier. Patients can see when a clinic works well together and there's great communication which is what we want because our patients will benefit from this.
DeleteIt certainly is interesting what people can learn from geese. One particular fascinating finding was that ‘when geese fly together, each goose provides additional life and reduces air resistance for the good flying behind it’. This is a perfect illustration of how when teams work together and have common goals, they succeed and accomplish their objectives much more rapidly. There may be a day when one person is struggling and the other team member’s step up to the plate and help carry that person. There have been many role changes in the Center Nurse Care Manager Role over the past couple years and if we stand united, cohesive, and support each other, the changes are much more effective and easier to accept. I feel that each one of these points can be applied not only to us as nurses and team work but to all other aspects of our lives as well.
ReplyDeleteYes, yes YES to "standing united!" It occurred to me that this is the focus of the recent "Say this, Not that" campaign as well...to not blame other departments for lapses, but to remain positive toward a common goal of quality patient care.
Delete"When geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it." Isn't this so true?! When we work together as a team, we have a greater/bigger effect than working solo. I never thought that geese could be used as examples of working together!
ReplyDeleteI also think that we are happier and less stressed when someone helps us with our workload. It reduces our resistance to the task at hand.
DeleteI also really liked the when geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces the air resistance for the goose flying behind it analogy with our nursing care at CTCA. Our patient's needs are complex. Collaborating as a team with multiple departments to provide seamless care to the patient is the goal. Providing care during your piece of the patient's journey provides the lift and providing excellent documentation helps other know what you have done for the patient and decreases resistance and improves communication!
ReplyDeletePatient's truly get the best care when there is good collaboration between all the different departments.
DeleteGreat point Brittney! Providing excellent, complete documentation helps others know what has been done for the patient, and helps improve communication! Doing double work is never any fun! Effective communication between all the different departments here is a achievable goal.
DeleteI think it's amazing how the Geese support eachother "when one goose becomes ill, is shot or injured, and drops out of the formation, two other geese will fall out of formation and remain with the weakened goose." When it comes to Cancer there is emotional investment from patients, care givers, and care providers.
ReplyDeleteWe become attached to our patients as they become like family. When the patient's have bad news or pass away, we can be shook to our core. We need the support from each other to be able to come to work everyday to continue to care and provide exceptional care.
After reading the geese article, I now realize why geese fly in V form. In our stem cell care manager's office, we also have the "V" form. V for Vilma who keeps us in order. She makes sure that our patient's calls get answered right away once Anna, our secretary linked us. She also directs our nurses who comes to cross train in our unit. She makes sure that they know how our right fax works and introduce them to our journeybook so the cross trained nurse can help and better assist in calling for labs and oral chemo follow-up. Care manager is a teamwork in motion. We do have our individual roles but everybody pitch in to do the work of another care manager that is sick or off. We have Julie as our great leader who manages us all. She made sure that our care managers are trained to do another care manager's job- Example-Eva was cross trained to do the role of inpatient care manager. Lil, Maria, Maricel and me are trained to do the Revlimid-enrolling pt., getting prior authorization, follow up with pt. per our Revlimid spreadsheet, doing oral chemo follow-up calls,etc. She gives us support when we need it.
ReplyDeleteBefore reading the Geese article, I thought the V formation is just to follow the leader which is the one in front of the pack. I didn't realize the other dynamics.In Same Day Surgery I believe we are already doing part of this dynamics. Because we've been working together for so long, we already know each other. We have our team lead & rotate when not available, during vacation days or someone called in sick, we step up & cover, we just don't have the luxury for two person to help because of staffing constraint, but we're able to do the job done to the best of our ability. When someone has problem we uplift them by encouragement, offering help & advice if they ask for it. We're also cognizant of their privacy & respect their wishes. There are time that miscommunication happens but we still try to rectify it by reminding each other to communicate. In conclusion I truly believed that our department is implementing this team work already but always a room for improvement. I really love this story and can say that bullying is the opposite of team work.
ReplyDeleteHi Imelda!
DeleteWhile I do not work directly with Same Day Surgery, I sometimes have to communicate with the department regarding mutual patients. I have witnessed the team work within and can say that it is truly one to follow. Having an adequate and cohesive team certainly makes a difference. When the unforeseen occurs however, it is important to rise to the occasion and that is something I continue to witness in your department.
Jessica Mendez
I like the idea when " Geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it. " In our department ( PACU/ RECOVERY ), we are a very small group of dedicated, hard-working, engage individuals who work together as a team. Every single day, we helped each other stabilize a patient when they come out of the Operating Room or anesthesia. Everyone has a part no matter how big or small it is, whether connecting the patient to the cardiac monitor, taking a temperature, applying SCD machine, giving warm blankets and everything in between. So when everyone work as a team, it lightens up the load for that particular nurse and surely will make her/ his day a lot better and easier. Finally, with great teamwork, our patients will benefit the most for they will get the best & safest care possible.
ReplyDeleteTheresa Minniear - Clinical Research
ReplyDeleteI for one did not know any of these facts about geese flight! The one that I thought was the “sweetest,” but least having to do with my current nursing role, is that if a goose is injured, not one but TWO other geese will remain with it until the goose recovers or passes. I love the imagery of this: no goose dies alone. We can all learn from this concept—to assist our fellow man, and to provide comfort in a time of need. I think this concept is easily able to be applied to bedside nursing, when a pt is in hospice.
Hearing the V formation that these geese do, ring a bell from a movie I watched in the 90’s “The Mighty Ducks” where the team played ice hockey and did the V formation to win the game. For the department I work with, we are assigned to work certain task but if the other stakeholder is done with their task, they helped, thus work is done at the end of the day. But if one is on vacation and another one calls in, our work is not done but we get help from other nurses (inpatient and outpatient nurses who crossed trained) and tasks done by the end of the week. We talk to each other for the betterment of a process.
ReplyDeleteGeese Honk at each other...I sometimes feel I'm honking all day. With my co-workers, my family, my kids...all day! But, communication is key to success. When there is a lack of communication you rely on observation and past knowledge. This can cause a problem with teamwork if the proper information is not communicated. I see this within my own department. Communication is not the same across the board therefore assumptions are made that may not be accurate.
ReplyDeleteThat is so true if we do not communicate within our departments and other departments throughout CTCA, we might not know of new changes to our patients or slight changes in policies.
DeleteThe first lesson "when geese fly together, each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it." This reflects my everyday experience in PACU. We always work as a team, supporting each other in times of need. In return we are all satisfied with our jobs and the patients as well.
ReplyDeleteJust reading this article make me relate on how teamwork happens in PACU. We always have each others' back to get things done efficiently which results to better job satisfaction and even better patient satisfaction.
ReplyDeleteIts amazing that we humans can learn so much from different animals especially how goose communicate, how each goose provides additional lift and reduces air resistance for the goose flying behind it. In PACU, we work harmoniously, have a good communication and share common value.
ReplyDeleteFlying in unison while each providing the additional lift needed to reduce air resistance for the others reminds me of multiple nursing experiences that exemplify team work. Pulling your weight or share of work is important so that the incoming shift has a smoother and less stressful day. Ultimate, all benefit and patient outcomes improve!
ReplyDeleteJessica Mendez
I think that the one characteristic that our nursing team has in common with the geese is communication. Geese honk at each other in order to communicate with one another while in flight. This goes for the leader as well as the other members of the group. When working as art of a team, communication is key to smooth operations. When communication breaks down, work doesn't happen as smoothly as it should and errors can be made. Communication is not only important in your specific team, but across all departments as well.
ReplyDeleteWow! This article really brought out the reasons why our PCU staff had worked so well together the last couple years. Each of the 5 points made resonated with me... the teamwork, moving out of lead formation, rotating leadership, communicating, and last but not least helping each other. I think the one that had made us special was the last one - we truly cared for each other, at work and also outside of work. We were a family with great respect for one another... the rest of the bullet points followed suit because of that.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if I have been in each one of the geese scenarios however, I am currently experiencing the first one with Pain Management. I have never felt that the team has let me fly alone or left me hanging out there by myself. I don’t know that we are always in a V formation but, I do know that they have taken me under their wings. Even though we are human with human emotions and emotional situations, we expend less energy and reach our destinations/goals fast when we are flying together. We each take the lead when called upon and lift each other up with a positive energy when needed. Sometimes, we are aware of the needs and sometimes it just happens even if not actually called upon.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that you joined our department. You have made us fly in a tighter V since you’ve started.
DeleteI relate to how when the geese fly in formation, they provide support and make the individual work of flying easier for each goose. On the inpatient floor, we have to work together as a team because one member may be overwhelmed while others work at that moment is light. When we cover each other, the patient's experience is better as their needs are met more easily. I believe the patient's can feel when their nurse and PCT are stressed or feeling hurried. A difficult shift of "flying" can be lightened when we all fly together.
ReplyDeleteI agree, patients can tell if the floor or their nurses are stressed. It makes a world of difference when they see a great team taking care of them versus one or two stressed out people who are struggling.
DeleteGreat article about teamwork, I really do feel that nursing is all about teamwork and if you do not have a good team that is supportive you will all fail. I feel that my team in infusion is one of the best teams I have ever been apart of. Each one of us has a voice, each one of us supports each other and tries our best to communicate and whenever one of us is having a bad day we try our best to help out. If we did not do this for each other then our floor wouldn't work as well as it does. We all have the concept of a team and I love being apart of one. A difficult shift for one nurse one day may be a difficult one for you the next day so its important to help each other as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how animals are more intuitive and intelligent than humans. In surgery, I could list a gazillion of examples of bullying and power games. The environment is very stressful, which I tend to think is a perfect ground for bullying. The most common example of bullying is demonstrated by a lot of older co-workers who are insecure and afraid of young and smarter nurses. This a classic one. It is followed by withholding information and lack of sharing knowledge, which in consequence leads to blaming games, humiliation and destruction. I know, this is horrifying but true. On the positive side, there are times of true teamwork, too. People are complex and a lot depends on the energy around. Communication is the key. How we communicate also makes a whole difference. After all, we are all connected and cannot exist without one another. Geese just know it, and humans are slowly learning this simple law of nature. All is one - that is the truth...
ReplyDeleteThe lesson:"Geese help Eachother", is the perfect lesson that is done everyday in infusion. We have a great team in infusion that has "common values" and "common destinations" which help eachother out to get the patient done with their chemo treatment on a timely and safe matter. If a situation occurs, such as a reaction to treatment, all of us stick together and make sure the situation gets resolved smoothly and safely, esp for the patient. TEAMWORK is the key!
ReplyDeleteI always believe that teamwork in every essence must always be the standard for all human beings. Just like in the article, the geese are an example of how things can be done with great outcomes if one is willing to commit themselves to be a leader and to be a follower. Working as a nurse in a Surgical Oncology Unit and as a charge nurse too, I feel that in my own experience geese rotate leadership is what I found to be the most applicable and interesting. As a charge nurse in the unit, I can see what happens in the unit in all aspects, I fix conflicts and problems to assure a smooth sailing shift, and I communicate with everybody including the supervisor and the manager to relate what is going on in the unit. All those things encompasses teamwork from my members and I am fortunate to have a group who is always cooperative and value the meaning of teamwork. I can say that since Together Each Accomplishes More (TEAM), I take pride in saying that when I have the hardest in dealing with a situation, my co-workers help me a lot and most of the time I give them the opportunity to be a leader on their own in certain things that I delegate to. For me, I help rotate the leadership among them for them to feel the involvement even in the most little way. Rotating leadership I believe especially in our unit is something that can give my peers and team the opportunity to try and be expose to new things,create and build their self confidence as leaders too, and most of all to feel the idea of the difference of what it is to be a leader and a follower at the same time.
ReplyDeleteTeamwork and communication can make a unit and staff work better. Providing better care to our patients. With these, work flow would be easy and the night will just go by fast.
ReplyDeleteAgree Quennie. Go team.
DeleteTeamwork is essential in any organization in order to succeed and excel at what you are doing, but it is especially needed in healthcare and nursing. As explained in the story about the geese, sometimes a team member needs to do extra, or pick up other duties to help out their other team members, so that the unit can still function and thrive. We do this all of the time in our wound care department of three nurses. It is difficult to manage sometimes when one or two of us are out, but we always seem to figure out a way to make it work, and we do it gladly, and willingly. We know that eventually the favor will need to be returned to us. I am glad to work in a facility and especially a department where we all see the need for teamwork, how it can make or break a department, and knowing that I have co-workers who “have my back” when I need them to. It makes coming to work less stressful and more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteThank you all!
Brenda Chiappetta
Wound Care
When team members care about each other, they figure out how to get things done. It's amazing what we can do when we pull together!
DeleteI agree to everybody's comments. It's nice to have a team work. helping each other and somebody that will guide us and protect us. Like the geese, they have a leader. In stem cell we have a good team. Like family.
ReplyDeleteThe goose lesson "geese help each other" is one that resonates with me. We've had some challenges in the group I work with, people have been sick, have had to be out unexpectedly, get pulled to other projects... our team works together to help each other out in those kinds of instances. We take on additional responsibilities, cover for each other, and genuinely care about each other. It feels good to know we're not alone, there's someone in our group to help when needed.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the nursing teams at CTCA do an amazing job communicating with each other. I know that there are difficult moments but the majority of the time the nursing teams from each area are easily accessible one way or another, and not only are they accessible they are responsive and receptive of the information/communication being given. Rarely do I have situations where the nurse on the receiving end is rude or not appreciate of the information given. I truly believe that the majority of nursing staff at CTCA are caring and respectful of one another.
ReplyDeleteGeese and animals are extraordinary creatures. We (humans) can definitely learn from them and other animals such as ants and bees. The lesson that best reminds me of nursing is “geese help each other”. It states that they will stay with an ill or injured Goose until he/she recovers. In nursing when you see a colleague stressed, overworked or just in need of a bathroom break we jump in. If someone has a tough assignment nurses then to offer their help simply because they know what the day will be like. Of course not everyone is like that but it is a lesson that when you offer your help not only life can be slightly easier but also help will be offered to you when needed.
ReplyDeleteThat is such a great article about geese and their teamwork. I feel in almost 6yrs since working in pain management, we’ve seen a lot of changes - staff, office space, doctors, managers. The one person who has always been there with words of wisdom and a laugh is Melissa Luebbe. Melissa L once said to me, I’ve been through worse than this... and she’ll give an example. I think to myself this is petty bs, let it go Melissa L is right, I’ll be okay. Our team now has learned to take care of each other & work together. In my 15+ yrs as a nurse this is truly the best team I’ve ever worked with and the best and most caring doctors I’ve ever worked with too. I feel very lucky to work with all of my co-worker everyday. We value everyone strengths and weaknesses because that does help our patients every day.
ReplyDeleteI am impressed. I don't think Ive met anyone who knows as much about this subject as you do. You are truly well informed and very intelligent. You wrote something that people could understand and made the subject intriguing for everyone. Really, great blog you have got here. nurse hat
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