Identifying key nursing and team behaviours to achieve high reliability.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to measure markers of key nursing behaviours in interdisciplinary teams during critical events to assess the extent of high reliability.


BACKGROUND
Technical and team competence are necessary to achieve high reliability to ensure safe patient care. Technical competence is generally assured because of professional training, licensure and practice standards. During critical events, team competence is difficult to observe, measure and evaluate in interdisciplinary teams.


METHODS
During critical events, in situ simulation was the method used to observe interdisciplinary interaction of nursing behaviours regarding communication. Seventeen trials were conducted and videotaped for evaluation at four hospital sites.


RESULTS
Key nursing behavioural markers for interdisciplinary interaction were described: situational awareness, use of situation, background, assessment, recommendation-response (SBAR-R), closed-loop communication and shared mental model.


CONCLUSIONS
Skills necessary for nurses to contribute to highly reliable, interdisciplinary teams are not consistently observed during critical events and constitute breaches in defensive barriers for ensuring patient safety.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses have a key role in assuring effective team performance through the transfer of critical information. Nurses need to recognize and identify important clinical and environmental cues, and act in order to ensure that the team progresses along the optimal course for patient safety.
Miller
Kristi
K
Fairview Health System, 2450 Riverside Avenue, Minneapolis, MS 55454, USA. kmiller5@fairview.org
Riley
William
W
Davis
Stanley
S
D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008910:Minnesota; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000451:nursing; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016544:Patient Simulation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis