Team Dynamics Flashcards
Successful high-performance teams not only have medical expertise and mastery of resuscitation skills, but they also demonstrate effective communication and team dynamics. Which of the following are Elements of Effective Team Dynamics, as described in the American Heart Association PALS video and ACLS summary?
Select ALL that apply.
Closed loop communication
Clear messages
Clear roles and responsibilities
Knowing limitations
Constructive intervention
Re-evaluation and summarizing
Mutual respect
Every member of the team should know his or her role and responsibilities. Just as different-shaped pieces make up a jigsaw puzzle, each team member’s role is unique and critical to the effective performance of the team. Which of the following are signs of unclear roles and responsibilities?
Select All that apply.
Team members performing a task more than once
Essential tasks are missed
Team members are performing unnecessary tasks
The best high-performance teams are composed of members who share a mutual respect for each other and work together in a collegial, supportive manner. Which of the following are examples of mutual respect?
Select All that apply.
Team members speak in a friendly, controlled tone of voice
Positive feedback is provided to team members
Team members acknowledge correctly completed assignments by saying “Thank you” or “Good job!”
Not only should everyone on the team know his or her own limitations and capabilities, but the team leader should also be aware of them. This allows the team leader to evaluate team resources and call for backup of team members when assistance is needed. High-performance team members should anticipate situations in which they might require assistance and inform the team leader. Which of the following are applicable during a resuscitation?
Select All that apply.
The team leader or members should call for assistance early rather than waiting until the patient deteriorates to the point that help is critical.
Team members should seek advice from more experienced personnel when the patient’s condition worsens despite primary treatment.
During a resuscitation attempt, the leader or a member of a high-performance team may need to intervene if an action that is about to occur may be inappropriate at the time. Although constructive intervention is necessary, it should be tactful. Team leaders and members should avoid confrontation with each other. Which of the following are examples of constructive intervention?
Select All that apply.
Conduct a debrief after the resuscitation and include constructive criticism if needed.
Reassign a team member to a different role more suited to them
Suggest an alternative drug or dose in a confident manner
A good practice for the team leader is to summarize the patient’s status, the interventions that have been performed and the assessment findings, out loud in a periodic update to the team. Review the status of the resuscitation attempt and announce the plan for the next few steps. Remember that the patient’s condition can change. Which of the following are good examples of monitoring and re-evaluating?
Select All that apply.
The team members discuss the decisions about differential diagnoses
The team members review and maintain an ongoing record of drug administration and treatments provided and review the patient’s response to each intervention
The team recognizes and discusses significant changes in the patient’s clinical condition
When the patient’s condition deteriorates the team members increase the amount and frequency of monitoring
Sharing information is a critical component of effective team performance. Members of a high-performance team should inform the team leader of any changes in the patient’s condition to ensure that decisions are made with all available information. Which of the following are good examples of knowledge sharing?
Select All that apply.
The team leader should ask the team members if anything has been overlooked
The team leader should encourage an environment of information sharing and ask for suggestions
The team leader should ask for good ideas for differential diagnoses
The team members should share information with each other
Team members should deliver clear messages in a calm and direct manner without yelling or shouting. Clear messages consist of concise communication spoken with distinctive speech in a controlled tone of voice. Unclear communication can lead to unnecessary delays in treatment or to medication errors. Which of the following are good examples of clear messaging?
Select All that apply.
Team leaders or members who clearly repeat a medication order or treatment plan
A team member politely but confidently questions an order when the slightest doubt exists
When high-performance team leaders and members communicate with each other they should use closed-loop communication. Which of the following are good examples of closed loop communication?
Select All that apply.
A clear response and eye contact provides confirmation that the team member both heard and understood the message.
A team leader should listen for confirmation of task performance from a team member before assigning them another task.
A team member should inform the team leader that they have completed a task
