title: Improving nursing unit teamwork.
abstract: A lack of teamwork among nursing staff affects care delivery and unit operations. Barriers present in the structure of a typical patient care unit that make it extremely difficult to achieve a high level of teamwork include large team size, lack of familiarity, instability of the work force and assignments, the absence of a common purpose and destiny, and an inhibiting physical environment. The authors discuss strategies to overcome these obstacles to teamwork.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA. bkalisch@umich.edu
authors.forename: Beatrice J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kalisch
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Begeny
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D011340:Problem Solving; D011787:Quality of Health Care