[Sharon]

Reflect on your work experience and environment. Thinking of the research you just read on teamwork which is 10 years old now and reflecting on your work experience and environment; identify and post recommendations that have been implemented. Have they been successful?

[Samantha]

At my current employer , we have created a specialized team of 1 RN and 2 RPNs who lead the work around wound care, called SWAT (Skin & Wound Assessment Team)
The 3 nurses have specialized designations, either NSWOC or SWAN and are an excellent example of collaboration, role clarity and skill mix. The team of SWAT nurses work within their respective scopes and collaborate with one another with the goal of the best resident outcomes. They support and educate the unit nurses regarding wounds and selecting the appropriate dressing/treatments. They work closely and engage with other healthcare professionals- MD, OTs, RDs for example. A customized progress note has been created for the SWAT team to use, so their notes/recommendations are easy for other team members to search/find in the clinical records. They are also responsible for HINS submissions for the wound care products.

[Megan]

In my current role and position, I continuously ensure my PSW are aware they are known, seen and appreciated because before becoming an RPN I was a PSW and felt that we were never appreciated but more less used for the work that the nurses didn’t want to do. They relied on the PSW to ensure they’re patients were ready, cleaned and dressed etc. for the day, all they would do is administer the medication. The role of the PSW is definitely under appreciated but should be and valued because as they are the first line of eyes and ears, advocation and the support for the patient when the nurse has a full team or is short staffed and having to add extra responsibility to their workload. Even thought they don’t hold the level of education as a nurse, they are educated from working alongside us nurses and having the experience. I feel that they should also be studied as they are also a large part of the circle of care for patients.

[Kirandip]

I agree Megan! PSW’s are an invaluable member of the health care team and are so very under-appreciated. I have worked with many PSW’s that have been vital to the circle of care of a patient, and their contributions are always key to parts of the nursing process as well.

[Kirandip]

In one of my previous roles in an independent & assisted living retirement home setting, there was a resident who was previously stable (multiple comorbidities- but was stable) and independent, but after a fall and stay in hospital, their health conditions had significantly declined and status changed to palliative status. The patient decided they wanted to continue to live in their independent suite and pass naturally with dignity in their private home/suite, but because their health status and pain management was continuously evolving and changing day by day, a palliative care team consisting of palliative care RNs was assigned to this patient. In this instance, because the patient’s health status was unstable, unpredictable, and combined with pain management that required the expertise of palliative care trained RNs (RPNs working in retirement homes generally care for stable/predictable health outcomes residents)- this was an appropriate change of nursing care.

[Author]

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