Improving Outcomes of the Patient-Care Team: Investigating the Relationship between Nurse-Team Communication Processes and Team Performance

Authors:

• Kathleen M. Propp (Western Michigan Univ)
• Julie A. Apker (Western Michigan Univ)
• Wendy Z. Ford (Western Carolina Univ)

Abstract:

Given their role as team leaders, and the centrality of their communication efforts, nurses are in a unique position to enhance the performance of the patient-care team and ultimately influence patient outcomes (Apker, Propp, & Ford, 2005). Extant literature supports that communication plays a pivotal role in team effectiveness, and also that nurses play a pivotal role as leaders of the patient-care team. However, the impact of nurse communication on team outcomes has not yet been investigated. Thus, this study explores the relationship between nurse-team communication and patient-care team performance. The nurse-team communication processes of ensuring decision quality and promoting team synergy were both found to significant, positive predictors of team performance, accounting for 45% of the variance in team patient-care outcomes.