By - Address the Situation
One of the most important steps in establishing a communication culture is the willingness to address the situation. More often than not, nurses don’t speak assertively, afraid that they will come across as rude. But, speaking your mind is essential not only to your patient’s well-being but your professional success as a nurse, as well.
- Create a Friendly Environment
According to NCBI, healthcare professionals value familiarity more than formality. That means creating an environment where doctors and nurses can question each other’s decision-making without feeling intimated or fearing a negative outcome.
- Focused Team Training Programs
Team training programs are one of the newest and most efficient methods of improving collaboration among doctors and nurses. By establishing a culture of respect, trust, accountability, open communication, and shared decision-making, you can minimize the risk of error.
Think about it this away. Even the best doctor or nurse can make a mistake. By providing constructive feedback and by being able to question every medical decision in a safe environment, you can reduce potential errors and improve every aspect of patient care. However, doctors must take the time to meet the nurses and other physicians they are working with, learn their names, and understand that a patient’s health always comes before personal pride.
- Practice Collaboration
You need to understand that conflicts and differences of opinions are inevitable in a setting where there’s so much professional diversity. Instead of rejecting someone’s suggestion instantly, take a second to analyze their point of view. You might be surprised to discover a fresh insight or solution to a problem.
Doctors who don’t trust, respect, and collaborate with nursing staff or one another are more likely to make a mistake that could affect the safety of patients. To combat this issue, healthcare professionals need to work constantly to improve their communication skills and foster an environment that supports collaboration.
