W
hether you work in a large facility with hundreds of other people or
you spend your days working in a private home with just one client,
you are part of a healthcare team. Every healthcare team is made up
of a variety of disciplines—such as nursing, physical therapy and social work.
In the past, each healthcare discipline had its own specific tasks to perform, but
no one really worried about how all those tasks came together. The nurse did
her job. The therapist did his. And the nursing assistants did theirs. Everyone
focused on their own “piece” of the client. Sometimes the same task got
repeated by two different people because the disciplines didn’t communicate
with each other.
But, healthcare has changed. The client as a
whole is now the main focus. Tasks are
performed with a plan in mind and all the
disciplines must work together on the same
goal—meeting the healthcare needs of each client.
The cost of healthcare is another big issue.
Healthcare professionals work together as a team
so that the each client’s healthcare dollars are
spent wisely.
Our current healthcare system requires that all team members:
Understand their own job and how it fits into the team.
Have a basic understanding of their coworkers’ jobs so they can all work
together.
Focus on how their actions are affecting the client.
This inservice will help you with these three requirements by:
Looking at your job as a nursing assistant and showing you how important
your work is to the healthcare team.
Describing the role of the many other disciplines who make up your
healthcare team.
Getting you to think about how your clients are affected by your work—and
the work of your team.
The Inservice Club for Nursing Assistants
Teamwork in Healthcare
“Teamwork“
means:
Getting along with
others.
Being respectful of
others and receiving
their respect in
return.
Cooperating with
every member of
your team.
Dealing with
problems as they
arise.
Working toward the
same goals.
IN THE KNOW
In the Know, Inc.
© 2000 In the Know, Inc.
May be copied for use within
each physical location that
purchases membership in the
Inservice Club. All other
copying or distribution is
strictly prohibited.
