NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 1

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Prof. Name

Date

Collaboration and Leadership Reflection

Transformational leadership is instrumental in creating a collaborative healthcare environment, fostering teamwork, and enhancing patient outcomes. In my nursing experience, effective leadership has been pivotal in guiding interdisciplinary teams and ensuring coordinated care delivery. This reflection examines an interdisciplinary collaboration experience, compares effective and ineffective leadership styles, and highlights best-practice strategies for leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Experience

In my clinical practice, I participated in an interdisciplinary team focused on minimizing medication errors and enhancing patient safety. The primary goal was to implement a structured communication process among nurses, physicians, and pharmacists. However, the team encountered challenges in maintaining accurate medication reconciliation due to inconsistencies in Electronic Health Record (EHR) documentation.

To address these challenges, nurses initiated team huddles at the beginning of each shift to review medication orders. Additionally, a shared documentation system was introduced to ensure real-time EHR updates. These initiatives fostered interprofessional respect, improved communication, and promoted shared responsibility. Nevertheless, some team members resisted the changes, particularly those accustomed to traditional workflows. Delays in updating medication orders led to frustration among nursing staff. Implementing structured change management strategies, clear role definitions, and additional training on the new documentation process could have mitigated these challenges.

Effective vs. Ineffective Leadership in Collaboration

Leadership plays a crucial role in guiding interdisciplinary teams and fostering collaboration. Throughout this experience, two contrasting leadership styles—transformational and transactional—were observed. Transformational leadership significantly enhanced collaboration by encouraging open communication and prioritizing long-term improvements (Mekonnen & Bayissa, 2023). Leaders who adopted this approach facilitated shared decision-making, ensuring active team member participation in patient care.

In contrast, transactional leadership was less effective as it focused on immediate problem-solving and adhered to rigid hierarchies (Mekonnen & Bayissa, 2023). This leadership style often relied on punitive measures rather than empowerment, leading to resistance among team members. The transformational leadership approach encouraged team engagement and innovation, whereas the transactional approach contributed to frustration and reduced collaboration.

Best-Practice Leadership Strategies

To optimize interdisciplinary teamwork, implementing transformational leadership strategies is essential. The following table outlines best-practice leadership strategies that enhance collaboration and team effectiveness.

Best-Practice Interdisciplinary Collaboration Strategies

Evidence-based strategies should be adopted to improve interdisciplinary collaboration. The following table presents effective strategies that facilitate teamwork and communication.

Developing Leadership Style

To strengthen transformational leadership skills, it is essential to refine change management abilities. Participation in leadership training programs focused on conflict resolution and team motivation can enhance leadership effectiveness (Shen & Tucker, 2024). Additionally, engaging in mentorship opportunities, both as a mentor and mentee, fosters continuous professional growth. Advocating for team-based decision-making ensures that all voices are valued in patient care discussions, promoting inclusivity and interprofessional collaboration.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my interdisciplinary collaboration experience reinforces the significance of transformational leadership in healthcare. By inspiring and empowering team members, nurses can drive meaningful change and improve patient outcomes. Developing leadership skills will enable more effective contributions to patient-centered care and strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration.

References

Calduch, E., Muscat, N., Krishnamurthy, R. S., & Ortiz, D. (2021). Technological progress in electronic health record system optimization: Systematic review of systematic literature reviews. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 152(1), 104507. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104507

Liu, M., Zhang, P., Zhu, Y., & Li, Y. (2022). How and when does visionary leadership promote followers’ taking charge? The roles of inclusion of leader in self and future orientation. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, 15(2), 1917–1929. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S366939

Mekonnen, M., & Bayissa, Z. (2023). The effect of transformational and transactional leadership styles on organizational readiness for change among health professionals. SAGE Open Nursing, 9(9). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10336755/

NURS FPX 4005 Assessment 1

Samardzic, M., Doekhie, K. D., & Wijngaarden, J. D. H. (2020). Interventions to improve team effectiveness within health care: A systematic review of the past decade. Human Resources for Health, 18(2), 1–42. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12960-019-0411-3

Shen, Q., & Tucker, S. (2024). Fostering leadership development and growth of nurse leaders: Experiences from Midwest Nursing Research Society Leadership Academy. Nursing Outlook, 72(6), 102293. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2024.102293