Being part of a team is so important in the trauma setting. One of our hospital standards is one team one purpose. I remember in times of intense traumas at the point the trauma surgeon has explored all options and it is moments before he or she is going to call time of death and hearing the words “Can you think of anything else we should try” asked to all members in the room. The first time I experienced it I was in shock, thinking did they really just ask me what to do. Then I thought what a better way to incorporate all of us into the decisions and maybe something someday by asking that simple question could save a patient’s life. “Team learning. This is the ability to suspend one’s own assumptions, listen to other viewpoints, and genuinely think together.” (Hamric, Hanson, Tracy & O’Grady, 2014).
ER and trauma nurses as well as providers have high burnout rates as well as suicide rates. We as team members who experience the same bad situations should randomly say to one another, how they are doing. Hopefully noticing when something is wrong, we are not super heroes and can cry too. “Physicians and providers are less apt to share their problems with their peers.” (Godfrey, 2015).
“Teamwork and team training is now seen as an essential part of preservice education.” There are some instances where it is not easy to work with someone. It is essential to have communication. When you have a problem address it, be an adult. Same goes for if a person addresses a situation with you be an adult and learn from it.
References:
Godfrey, L. (2015). How To Maintain Healthy Relationships In Your High Demand Medical Profession. Retrieved from http://vitalworklife.com/blog/2015/09/14/how-to-maintain-healthy-relationships-in-your-high-demand-medical-profession/
Hamric, A. B., Hanson, C. M., Tracy, M. F., & O’Grady, E. (2014). Advanced practice nursing: An integrative approach (5th Ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier/Saunders
Thomas, E. (2016). Why Is Teamwork in Health Care Important? Retrieved from https://www.hrhresourcecenter.org/HRH_Info_Teamwork