Building a Collaborative Community in Nursing: From The Connected Educator.
Trust is also emphasized as a foundational element of collaboration, as it must be built over time through transparent communication and shared leadership. Trust allows for open dialogue, asking for help, and considering all perspectives when making decisions about patient care. In the future, nurses will need to cultivate trust within their team, especially in high-pressure situations like emergency rooms or intensive care units. Shared responsibility in healthcare empowers nurses to be leaders at the bedside.
Digital tools and virtual professional learning communities (VPLCs) are also discussed, such as platforms like Twitter and Google Docs for sharing ideas and resources. Electronic health records (EHRs) allow healthcare professionals to share patient information in real-time, ensuring everyone involved in the patient's care is on the same page. Online communities for nurses, such as forums, webinars, and social media groups, provide opportunities to connect with peers globally, similar to the VPLCs described in the book. These digital spaces allow nurses to discuss case studies, share research, and find emotional support from those who understand the unique challenges of the profession.
APPLICATION TO MY NURSING CAREER:
As a future nurse, I must adopt collaborative practices, emphasizing trust and shared leadership. This is particularly important in healthcare, where every team member should feel empowered to contribute. In a hospital setting, hierarchical structures can discourage collaboration, but creating an environment where everyone's voice is heard can improve patient outcomes and team morale. Applying these principles in patient handoffs can significantly improve patient safety by fostering trust and open communication. Additionally, I plan to use digital tools and networks to stay informed about nursing research and best practices, participating in online nursing communities to continuously learn and improve my practice.
Question for My Readers
Nussbaum-Beach and Hall discuss the value of establishing trust in a cooperative setting in The Connected Educator. How has trust affected teamwork, either positively or negatively, for those of you who are already working in the healthcare industry? Which techniques have you found to be successful in fostering trust between medical teams?
References
Hall, L. R., and S. Nussbaum-Beach (2012). Learning and Leading in the Digital Age: The Connected Educator. Solut ion Tree Press.
Hi, I like how you related a nursing network to this chapter. I have friends who are in nursing school and these use a personal learning network for so many reasons. For example, my one friend uses it to find other nurses to study since there is so much complicated and important information that must be learned.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the book using examples for teaching and Im going to be a teacher, I always think of the topics in a classroom and I never thought a PLN could be related to nursing. I can definitely see how beneficial it could be in the medical field now. Your pictures are cool, the first one I instantly thought was amazing, but the second one I actually wanted to look at for a minute to see what was going on.
ReplyDeleteHi! Even though your question is for people that has worked or is currently working in the healthcare industry, I thought I'd answer it in the early childhood education industry. Trust is very important because you can create a supportive, effective, and a great environment not only for your students but your co workers as well.
ReplyDeleteTrust and collaboration are super important in healthcare, especially when it comes to working as a team for patient care. I found it really interesting that you pointed out how digital tools like Twitter and Google Docs can help nurses connect and share resources. I also liked your point about trust needing time to develop, which reminds me of how open communication can make a difference in high-pressure nursing situations. What digital tools do you think will be most helpful as you begin your nursing career?
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