PERT Program

Tip of the Month: April 2003


Team Building


Providing care at the end of life is hard work, particularly when it is repeated daily. No one person can meet the needs of an individual resident. Commonly, it takes a number of team members working together to identify, report, and intervene whether developing a plan of care or problem-solving institutional challenges. One of the most important aspects of a highly functioning team is the ability to communicate effectively. As Marty Richards states in the communication workshop, "you cannot NOT communicate." How well communication occurs impacts the quality of care provided to residents as well as job satisfaction of staff.

Listed below are the ideas offered by participants in Cohort 2 about "what works" to build teams in their facilities. Do you see new ideas that might be implemented in your facility? Do you recognize suggestions that you currently employ but that could be enhanced or brought to the attention of your administrators?


Work with everyone
  • Promote open conversation between all staff
  • Work with everyone
  • Let everyone know what's happening
  • Bring the message to others
  • Anticipate needs of coworkers — ask!
  • Meet and "report" — everyone has a say
  • Recognize our cultural diversity
  • Be accessible
  • We're on the same team, no matter which title or department we're in
  • Build relationships with staff — takes time and lots of chocolate
  • Knowledge for everyone
  • Daily multidisciplinary report time
  • Team rounds
  • Sharing info with each other (i.e., during reports)
  • Listen and receive input from each other (role doesn't matter)
  • Vent with each other
  • Give report to next shift, so not "cold"
  • Realize different roles in facility (i.e., laundry)
Affirmations
  • Say thank you — you make a difference
  • Write down kudos and post
  • Employee of the month, monthly birthday parties, etc
  • Show appreciation for the "gifts" and acknowledgments that are offered by the company
  • Kudos board — special help, thank yous, "kudos" slips
  • Thank yous
  • When NACs report, thank them
  • Educate and praise at team meetings
  • Bring humor to the day
  • Acknowledge birthdays
  • Appreciation board
  • Say thank you
  • Praise each to encourage
  • Employee of the month
Listen
  • Ask and listen
  • Role modeling
  • Special meetings
  • Communication books — for staff to staff and family / resident to staff — "what's new" section — 2–3 weeks worth of changes
  • Minutes of meetings
  • Encourage CNA reporting to LNs and each other
  • Following up on communication is important — if something is brought up, get back to that person — no matter what the outcome; don't need to give all details
  • Being able to listen objectively
  • Talking to specific caregivers
  • Write it down during busy times
  • Check in with each other
Support
  • Support system — input from all
  • Inservicing
  • Never say "that's not my patient," and don't take advantage of that
  • Monthly meetings
  • Let each other know that problems outside of building stay outside of building
  • Bring food — potluck in comfortable area — will initiate getting to know each other to being more understanding
  • Proper creative staffing
Set goals
  • Same goals — better quality of care
  • "Customer Service"
  • Make sure everybody has one goal
Please contact the PERT Program if you have other ideas on team-building to share with the growing PERT team.

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