As new delivery models call for collaboration across the healthcare continuum, the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) and the American Nurses Association (ANA) last week issued principles to improve teamwork between clinical nurses and nurse managers.
The principles offer guidance on effective communication, authentic relationships, and learning environment and culture, which often lead to better workplace culture and patient outcomes. For example, the organizations recommend engaging in active listening, giving accurate information and speaking directly to the person involved to appropriately convey information.
To enhance collaboration, providers need changes in attitude, behavior and work environment--all of which are "simple, sustained and virtually costless," the groups state. But relationships will not improve overnight; it takes prioritization and buy-in from nurses at all levels.
"With the ever-evolving nature of healthcare delivery, there is a strong need for increased synergies between clinical nurses and nurses in more formal leadership positions," AONE President Laura Caramanica said last week in a statement.
Meanwhile, ANOE and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing last week launched new online resources for successful partnerships between practice and academic leaders. With effective academic-practice collaboration, nursing leaders will have a greater opportunity and ability to improve care, according to the AONE statement.
To learn more:
- read the principles (.pdf) and AONE statement
- here's the online resource and AONE statement