Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships

Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships 

Descriptor: Intentional collaboration across professions and with care team members, patients, families, communities, and other stakeholders to optimize care, enhance the healthcare experience, and strengthen outcomes. 

Contextual Statement: Professional partnerships that include interprofessional, intraprofessional, and paraprofessional partnerships, build on a consistent demonstration of core professional values (altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and shared accountability) in the provision of team-based, person-centered care. Nursing knowledge and expertise uniquely contributes to the intentional work within teams and in concert with patient, family, and community preferences and goals. Interprofessional partnerships require a coordinated, integrated, and collaborative implementation of the unique knowledge, beliefs, and skills of the full team for the end purpose of optimized care delivery. Effective collaboration requires an understanding of team dynamics and an ability to work effectively in care-oriented teams. Leadership of the team varies depending on needs of the individual, community, population, and context of care. 

6.1 Communicate in a manner that facilitates a partnership approach to quality care delivery. 

6.1g Evaluate effectiveness of interprofessional communication tools and techniques to support and improve the efficacy of team-based interactions. 

6.1h Facilitate improvements in interprofessional communications of individual information (e.g. EHR). 

6.1i Role model respect for diversity, equity, and inclusion in team-based communications. 

6.1j Communicate nursing’s unique disciplinary knowledge to strengthen interprofessional partnerships. 

6.1k Provide expert consultation for other members of the healthcare team in one’s area of practice. 

6.1l Demonstrate capacity to resolve interprofessional conflict. 

6.2 Perform effectively in different team roles, using principles and values of team dynamics. 

6.2g Integrate evidence-based strategies and processes to improve team effectiveness and outcomes. 

6.2h Evaluate the impact of team dynamics and performance on desired outcomes. 

6.2i Reflect on how one’s role and expertise influences team performance. 

6.2j Foster positive team dynamics to strengthen desired outcomes. 

6.3 Use knowledge of nursing and other professions to address healthcare needs. 

6.3d Direct interprofessional activities and initiatives. 

6.4 Work with other professions to maintain a climate of mutual learning, respect, and shared values. 

6.4e Practice self-assessment to mitigate conscious and implicit biases toward other team members. 

6.4f Foster an environment that supports the constructive sharing of multiple perspectives and enhances interprofessional learning. 

6.4g Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into team practices. 

6.4h Manage disagreements, conflicts, and challenging conversations among team members 

6.4i Promote an environment that advances interprofessional learning. 

(American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021, pp. 42-43)

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. AACNnursing.   https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf

Related Evidence

For the NURS 7115: Clinical Prevention and Health Promotion course, I completed a group project with four fellow students. Our assignment was to design a health promotion program for Dallas County Arkansas. We first identified obesity, economic instability, and health care access as common health disparities in Dallas County. We then designed a health promotion program to mitigate these disparities within the county. 

The first step in developing this program was a thorough county description including the following: geography; demographics; schools and educational facilities; churches and community organizations; recreational facilities and community centers; health resources (hospitals, clinics, insurance); income and economics; and industry and employment. After completing the county assessment and formulating a community diagnosis, our team then developed our program objectives and determined our process of program evaluation. For the purpose of conducting our program design and implementation plan, we referenced the Health Promotion Model. Our plan included specific interventions aimed at reducing disparities and securing needed resources, such as financial resources, facilities, and team members. Finally, our group identified measures of evaluation of the effectiveness of our program and sustainability.

For the NURS 52574: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing Theory II course, I completed two assignments related to interprofessional partnerships. This portion of our curriculum focused on different therapy modalities to enhance our understanding of non-pharmacological treatment options. In addition to didactic study, we completed clinical hours with a therapist acting as our preceptor. The first assignment I completed was a PowerPoint presentation providing a comprehensive overview of existential therapy. The second assignment I completed was a self-assessment with the instruction to provide an exemplar of collaboration with other members of the health care team in the management of individuals with mental illness. For this assignment, I shared details regarding an event in which my preceptor, a licensed professional counselor (LPC), and I collaborated to address a patient’s concerns.

Reflection

The Dallas County Health Promotion project was an excellent learning experience that gave me the opportunity to develop skills in teamwork and collaboration. This project aided me in achieving Domains 6.1g, “Evaluate effectiveness of interprofessional communication tools and techniques to support and improve the efficacy of team-based interactions,”6.1k,” Provide expert consultation for other members of the healthcare team in one’s area of practice,”  6.1l, “Demonstrate capacity to resolve interprofessional conflict,” and 6.2i, “Reflect on how one’s role and expertise influences team performance” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021, pp. 42-43).

My research and subsequent PowerPoint presentation on existential therapy as well as my reflection on collaboration with the LPC not only enhanced my understanding of the philosophy and techniques involved in therapy but also aided my achievement of Domains 6.3, “Use knowledge of nursing and other professions to address healthcare needs,” and 6.4, “Work with other professionals to maintain a climate of mutual learning, respect, and shared values” (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2021, p.43).

References

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing education. AACNnursing.   https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf