Running head: COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION 1

e-Portfolio - Essential VI:

Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration

for Improving Patient Health Outcomes

Angèle C. Wright

Frostburg State University

ESSENTIAL VI 2

e-Portfolio - Essential VI: Interprofessional Communication and Collaboration

for Improving Patient Health Outcomes

Essential IV outlines the basic communication and collaboration skills needed by the

newly baccalaureate trained nurse in order to successfully interact with the patient-centered

interdisciplinary team. This Essential stresses the importance of providing adequate training in

the areas of “effective communication skills, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and

informatics” (AACN, 2010, p. 22) while in school in an effort to improve the future caregivers’

ability to confidently and successfully integrate an existing patient-centered care team.

Reflection

The Complete Issue Analysis (CIA) assignment asks the future baccalaureate trained

nurse to outline the current challenges and opportunities associated with a topic selected by the

student. The baccalaureate nurse in training is also asked to outline any environmental or

external issues that may have an impact on the chosen topic. Some examples of the issues

explored include legal/ethical, communication, change, economics, cost, information technology,

health promotion, politics, and intra/inter-disciplinary issues. This assignment prompts the

student nurse to gain a deeper perspective and appreciation of the nursing profession by engaging

in a discussion on how those aforementioned issues affect it. The nursing student is also asked to

outline their thoughts on the role of nursing, how members of the nursing communities may

respond to the chosen topic, as well as the best way to effectively understand the nurses’

responses to manage the issues listed above. Finally, the nursing student is asked to create a

statement of opinion regarding the status of nursing and if it is yet considered a profession.

Change management was the topic selected for the Complete Issue Analysis (CIA)

assignment. Throughout the course of the CIA, emphasis was placed on the nurse’s ability to
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effectively manage the evolution of new practices within the patient-centered workplace and

some of the issues that may hinder or limit its impact. Essential VI, in turn, attempts to explain

the importance of accepting new changes driven by evidence-based research and quality

improvement methodologies in a multi-disciplinary, patient-centered healthcare team that

supports positive patient outcomes. An effective change management system relies on a well-

managed infrastructure, strong communication skills, and an environment of strong collaboration

amongst all members of the inter-disciplinary team. Without these, a multi-disciplinary team

based on mutual respect and truth cannot exist. And as a result, the patient will suffer greatly.

By providing future caregivers with this training prior to entry in the workplace, the

caregiver will experience a smoother transition and will be able to use their limited resources on

building a productive bedside practice faster; allowing the newly baccalaureate trained nurse the

opportunity to collaborate with other members of the interdisciplinary team and contribute to

positive patient outcomes. The inclusion of this training will also help the future caregiver

develop a better understanding of workplace professionalism; thereby improving others’

impressions of the newly baccalaureate trained nurse and fostering an environment of mutual

trust, respect, and collaboration.

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References

American Nurses Association. (2010). Nursing: Scope and standards of practice. Silver Spring,

MD: American Nurses Association

Blais, K.K., Hayes, J.S. (2016). Professional nursing: Concepts and perspectives. (7th ed.).

Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall