Teamwork and critical thinking

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Teamwork and critical thinking

In my nursing practice, I have often witnessed the invaluable contributions of various
team-thinking roles in promoting effective interdisciplinary collaboration and ensuring
optimal patient care outcomes. Bensimon and Neumann's eight-team thinking roles, as cited
in Rubenfeld and Scheffer (2015), have provided a comprehensive framework for
understanding these critical roles. I want to highlight three roles and share real-life examples
of individuals fulfilling them.
The Definer is an essential part of the team and becomes the voice that constructs the
reality shared by an organization's team. This is what a charge nurse does when conducting
shift handover meetings. For instance, a charge nurse conducts a simple meeting with the
team where they brief on the current status of the patient, their treatment, and problem areas.
It goes beyond knowledge distribution but creates a foundation of care, which dictates how
all the daily care endeavors shall be conducted.
"The Analyst" is another vital role, responsible for assessing all components of an issue. In
one memorable scenario, a patient's condition suddenly deteriorated. A seasoned nurse on the
team assumed the Analyst role. They meticulously reviewed the patient's medical history,
evaluated recent test results, and considered potential treatment adjustments. This analytical
approach ensured that all relevant factors were considered, leading to more informed
decision-making and improved patient care.
Moreover, “The Interpreter” is also a crucial part of my experience that brings about
comprehension between teammates who hold opposing views regarding patient outcomes.
The nurse who was an expert in palliative care played the role of an Interpreter in discussions
related to treatment options for a particular patient suffering from a chronic illness. The nurse
gave more than just clinical perspectives, addressing the emotional and psychological needs

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of the patient. The holistic way of going about the activities allowed the team to develop a
more complete and humane care plan.
These roles have been imperative in my nursing career. “The Definer,” “The
Analyst,” and “The Interpreter” support teamwork and patient care by enabling clear
communication, thorough evaluation, and emotional comprehension for successful team
functioning and improved patient outcomes. These roles form the core of successful
healthcare teams and provide quality care to patients through their coordinated efforts
(Rubenfeld & Scheffer, 2015).
Why this role is necessary for the team thinking process to go smoothly
The definer, the analyst, and the interpreter is a key role that makes communication
run smoothly regarding interdisciplinary teamwork and collaboration in health care. “The
Definer” helps ensure effective collaboration in the clinical team by briefly describing a
patient’s diagnosis and treatment plan. The team has its basis on this transparency as a base.
Kwame and Petrucka (2021) point out that the key pillars of success are establishing an
effective communication environment, sharing information to avoid miscommunication, and
every person starting with a common understanding on board. Such a situation may create
communication and clarity, which might give birth to fragmented care, resulting in an
increased risk of harm to the patient.
Furthermore, “The analyst” should contribute towards an overall evaluation by the
team involving all facets surrounding a clinical issue so that appropriate decisions are made.
As pointed out by the World Health Organization (2021), a comprehensive review is
important since it helps avoid overlooking any critical item about patient management. The
role of an Analyst in complex cases is paramount as it facilitates a structured assessment of
available information and, subsequently, better problem-solving and treatment plans. This

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could result in wrong decisions with complete or false information, leading to low standards
of care.
Finally, “The Interpreter” helps ensure cohesive team thinking by closing language
gaps between team members who have differing perspectives. Knowledge differences among
members of healthcare teams in diverse cultures may result in miscommunications due to
langu