DiversityNursing Blog

Elitism in Nursing, a long-standing and pervasive issue, has been a source of significant problems across all areas of our profession. It often manifests as unspoken or assumed, leading to bullying, belittling, and an exclusive mentality. While experience is crucial for training and developing new Nurses, it can also breed a sense of superiority if not kept in check.

The truth is that elitism has no place in our noble profession. The key to our success lies in our ability to function as a team. By replacing elitism with teamwork, we can foster an inclusive and collaborative culture where every member is valued and respected for their unique contributions.

Read on to discover how we, as Nurses, can enhance teamwork and eradicate elitism, paving the way for a more harmonious and effective work environment.

Promote a Culture of Inclusivity: Recognizing and appreciating the importance of every Nursing role, from LPNs to APRNs, is essential to promoting a culture of inclusivity in the workplace. It is always important to highlight each Nursing role's unique contributions to patient care.

Nurses should strive to encourage a diverse workforce and celebrate the differences in each Nursing professional's background, education, and experience as strengths to be learned from rather than a source of division.

Encourage Open Communication: Encouraging open communication by ensuring that all meetings and discussions involve input from all Nursing staff levels is essential to promoting teamwork and reducing elitism. To facilitate open communication, it is important to establish systems for regular feedback so that all Nurses can express their concerns and use their voices to suggest improvements without fear of retribution.

When Nurses feel as though they can express their questions, concerns, or feedback freely without the fear of retaliation or retribution, elitism will become extinct.

Recognizing and Rewarding Teamwork: The best way to promote teamwork is to recognize and reward the team for their achievements rather than individual accomplishments. Celebrating milestones and successes as collective efforts can help further promote teamwork and emphasize the importance of teamwork over the elitism mentality.

Maintain Focus on Patient-Centered Care: To eradicate elitism in the workplace, the entire Nursing team must share the same goal of providing high-quality, patient-centered care. Collaboration and teamwork must be emphasized to achieve the best patient outcomes.

Collaboration between all healthcare disciplines is essential to creating a holistic approach to patient care. When the team works together, and all healthcare providers feel heard and respected, patients receive the best possible care.

Address Power Imbalances: Power imbalances must be addressed to snuff out the elitist mentality in Nursing. Implementing transparent policies regarding job roles, responsibilities, and advancement opportunities can help reduce the perceived power imbalances we often encounter in the workplace.

If power imbalances are noticed, proper conflict resolution is essential to ensure that issues related to elitism are addressed constructively and do not result in further bullying or belittling of other Nursing professionals.

Elitism has no place in the Nursing profession. While it may be true that some of the older generations of Nurses may ‘eat their young,’ this is not a trend we should continue as more generations of Nurses join the field. By implementing these proven strategies, we can promote teamwork, collaboration, and mutual respect, significantly improving the Nursing environment and, most importantly, patient care.

Teamwork is a fundamental aspect of the Nursing practice and is essential for providing safe and effective patient care. In healthcare, Nurses collaborate with a diverse team of professionals, including other Nurses, Physicians, Therapists, Pharmacists, and support staff.

Key Aspects of Teamwork in Nursing:

Communication

Communication is the cornerstone of collaboration, ensuring all team members are well-informed and working towards a common goal. Effective communication involves more than conveying information; it encompasses active listening, sharing relevant information, and seeking clarification when necessary.

Active listening is a main component of effective communication. Nurses must attentively listen to their colleagues' viewpoints, concerns, and suggestions. By actively listening, Nurses demonstrate respect for their team members and establish a foundation of trust. This creates an environment where everyone feels valued and encourages the exchange of ideas.

Sharing relevant information ensures all team members have a comprehensive understanding of the patient's condition and care plan. Nurses should provide clear and concise updates, including any changes in the patient's status, medications, or treatment plans. Sharing this information in a timely manner allows the team to make informed decisions and provide coordinated care.

Asking for clarification when needed is another vital aspect of effective communication. Nurses must not hesitate to seek clarification if they are unsure about any aspect of the patient's care or if they need further information to perform their tasks effectively. This proactive approach fosters a culture of openness and collaboration, where questions are encouraged, and knowledge is shared.

Nurses should convey information in a professional and respectful manner, considering the emotions and sensitivities of their colleagues. By maintaining a positive and supportive communication style, Nurses contribute to a harmonious work environment and enhance teamwork.

Collaboration

Collaboration is at the heart of Nursing practice, it allows healthcare professionals from various disciplines to come together and provide comprehensive care to patients. Nurses play a crucial role in this collaborative effort by working closely with Physicians, Therapists, and other members of the healthcare team to develop and implement care plans that address the holistic needs of each individual.

In this collaborative process, Nurses bring their unique perspective and expertise to the table, contributing valuable insights and knowledge that enhance the overall quality of patient care. By actively engaging in interdisciplinary discussions and sharing their observations and assessments, Nurses ensure that all aspects of the patient's health are considered and addressed.

Respect and Trust

Respecting each other's expertise and perspectives is mandatory for effective teamwork. Team members must acknowledge and value the unique skills and knowledge each individual brings to the table. This respect fosters an environment of trust, where team members can rely on one another and work together harmoniously.

Trust is the foundation upon which successful teamwork is built. It is developed through open and transparent communication, where team members feel comfortable expressing their thoughts, concerns, and ideas. By actively listening to one another, respecting different viewpoints, and engaging in constructive dialogue, trust is nurtured and strengthened.

Reliability is another key factor in building trust within a healthcare team. Team members must be dependable and follow through on their commitments and responsibilities. This includes being punctual, completing tasks in a timely manner, and ensuring their actions align with the agreed-upon care plan. When team members can rely on one another, they feel confident in the team's ability to deliver safe and effective patient care.

A shared commitment to patient well-being is the ultimate bond that unites a healthcare team. When team members prioritize the best interests of the patient above all else, trust is reinforced. This commitment involves advocating for the patient, collaborating on care decisions, and continuously striving to improve the quality of care provided.

Role Clarity

Each member of the healthcare team has specific roles and responsibilities that are keys to the overall functioning of the team. Clear delineation of roles helps prevent confusion, ensures tasks are completed efficiently, and contributes to a smoother workflow.

By clearly defining each team member's role, there is a greater sense of accountability and ownership over their specific tasks. This allows for better organization and coordination within the team, as everyone knows exactly what is expected of them. With role clarity, each team member can focus on their own responsibilities, which leads to increased productivity and effectiveness in delivering patient care.

Adaptability

As situations can change rapidly, team members must be able to quickly adapt and respond to emerging challenges. This requires flexibility and a willingness to collaborate on problem-solving.

Adaptability means being open to new ideas and approaches. It involves embracing change and being willing to step outside of one's comfort zone. Nurses who are adaptable understand there is always room for improvement and are constantly seeking ways to enhance their skills and knowledge.

Being adaptable also means being able to think on your feet and make quick decisions when necessary. In high-pressure situations, Nurses must be able to assess the situation, consider all available information, and make informed choices in the best interest of the patient. This requires a calm and composed demeanor, as well as the ability to prioritize and multitask effectively.

Conflict Resolution

This is an inevitable aspect of teamwork, and is needed to address conflicts promptly in order to maintain a harmonious work environment. Constructive conflict resolution involves a combination of open communication, active listening, and finding solutions that benefit both the individuals involved and the team as a whole.

It is important to note conflict resolution is not about winning or losing, but rather about finding a resolution that satisfies all parties involved. This requires compromise, flexibility, and a willingness to consider different perspectives. By finding middle ground and reaching a consensus, conflicts can be resolved in a way that promotes unity and collaboration within the team.

Continuous Improvement

This involves a commitment to consistently evaluating and enhancing the quality of patient care. By engaging in ongoing evaluation and quality improvement efforts, healthcare professionals can ensure they are providing the best possible care to their patients.

Regular team meetings provide an opportunity for team members to come together and discuss various aspects of patient care. These meetings allow for open and honest communication, where team members can share their experiences, challenges, and successes. By sharing insights and lessons learned, the team can identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to address them. Team meetings also foster a sense of unity and collaboration, as everyone works together towards a common goal of providing optimal patient care.

Feedback sessions are another important component of continuous improvement. These sessions involve giving and receiving feedback on individual and team performance. Constructive feedback allows team members to identify their strengths and areas for growth, as well as receive guidance on how to enhance their skills and knowledge. By providing feedback in a supportive and constructive manner, team members can feel empowered to make positive changes and contribute to the overall improvement of the team.

Effective teamwork in Nursing is a collaborative effort that involves clear communication, respect, trust, and a shared commitment to patient-centered care. Nurses play a central role in fostering positive teamwork and contributing to the overall success of the healthcare team.

Today's health systems are made of skilled, multigenerational, and culturally diverse work forces. And even though each specialty has a specific focus, you all share a common goal. That goal is to provide the best patient care experience in a positive work environment. The best way to accomplish that goal is with teamwork.

Teamwork requires good communication and a collaborative care strategy. All team members want to feel that their ideas and skills are valued.

Team members should be encouraged to ask questions, share ideas or concerns, and discuss potential solutions. Each person's strengths and skills must be utilized to provide the best possible patient care experience and improve job satisfaction.

According to a report by The Society for Human Resource Management, teamwork is closely associated with higher job satisfaction. And a study published in the National Library of Medicine said, Nurses who are more satisfied with their jobs provide better care.

Trustworthiness is essential for teamwork, and the best way to grow trust is to get comfortable with one another. It’s crucial to build relationships and understand how each member of the team functions.

Team members have their own individual feedback, suggestions, and questions. Therefore, active listening is an important aspect of team operations.

When many health care professionals collaborate and brainstorm about a patient's care, the workload is distributed more evenly and stress is reduced.

Educational institutions are emphasizing the importance of teamwork and communication early to build a stronger foundation for successful healthcare outcomes.

Regis college published an article that said, mutual respect is critical in health care settings, not just within the team but across collaborative departments. Team members who are not feeling respected can become defensive, foster hidden agendas, demonstrate a lack of engagement, and worse. Building mutual respect comes through a common, focused goal; an understanding that each individual’s work is valuable and an acknowledgment of the efforts of others.

Patients must be part of the communication process too. Their early and thorough involvement has been shown to minimize errors and potential adverse events, according to an article published in the National Library of Medicine.

When everyone is working together as a team to accomplish a common goal, patient care improves and job satisfaction increases. Plus, it’s a happier, more cohesive and productive work environment for everyone involved, including your patients!