UTA Nursing Teamwork and Case Management Case Scenario Discussion

Teamwork and Collaboration Forum

Select from one of the two discussion forum options:

Option 1: Teamwork and Case Management. Read the case scenario and respond to the following questions

The nurse is caring for Zilla Carrera, a 72-year-old who suffered a stroke and has developed a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is being treated with an anticoagulant. The client walks short distances (20 feet) with the assistance of a walker and one person. Zilla has generalized weakness with the right leg and arm being somewhat weaker than the left side. Since suffering the stroke, Zilla has had difficulty with constipation, having hard irregular stools, and a decreased appetite but is able to swallow effectively, using a soft diet. The client demonstrates leakage of urine and is wearing a disposable brief. The client needs assistance to bathe and perform other personal hygiene. Zilla’s family has been present and supportive throughout the hospital stay and sometimes assists with personal hygiene needs. Zilla is sometimes forgetful and attempts to get up without assistance; a bed alarm has been used to assist with fall prevention as well as the family calling for help when they are present.

Nurses are vital members of the inter-professional healthcare team and collaborate with other members to implement actions to achieve desired client outcomes

• What was your first thought when seeing “Teamwork and Collaboration”?
• Prior to the readings, what was your understanding of a case manager’s role?
• As a nurse, working together with other nurses and members of the inter-professional health care system is essential. How can you learn to collaborate now as you are progressing through school?

Knowing your role as a nurse is the beginning. Then, you need to understand how your role intersects with others. Communication is critical.

• Reflect on this case study and decide who needs to be involved and what interventions would you expect them to provide?
• If you are the case manager for patient Zilla Carrera, what would be the best post hospital discharge placement, in order to achieve the best patient outcomes? What information would you need to best assist the patient and family during this care transition? Who else need to be involved in this care transition? 

Option 2:  Teamwork and Leadership.  Review the attached file and answer the following questions in essay style.

Background: the attached file is a copy of the responsibilities for one in-patient unit’s team lead, aka charge nurse. This list of responsibilities were developed by the unit management. “MEWS” stands for “modified early warning score”. It uses physiological parameters, such as vital signs, GCS score, oxygen delivery mode, etc. to identify patients that are at increased risk of clinical deterioration. You may consider MEWS is an early indicator to alert us to implement interventions, to prevent patients going to ICUs, or code blue, or rapid response. 

Questions: 

From a bedside nurse’s perspective, after reviewing this list of team lead or charge nurse’s responsibilities, what is your impression of the unit’s teamwork? Please provide explanation to your answer. Would you like to work with this team? Please share a reason or two of why or why not. 

If you are to change this list of responsibilities, what would you remove? what would you add? to make it your “dream team”. 

Some of you already work in the healthcare system, if not, you have been to different nursing units and/or hospitals for clinical. Based on your observations of the reality, what are your thoughts on the statement, “You can’t be part of the team, once you are in the leadership position” ?