Teaching Nursing Teamwork

When you earn your Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Education (MSN Ed) degree from Grand Canyon University, you are prepared to become a nursing educator. Whether you work in a traditional or non-traditional nursing setting, as a nurse educator, you’ll work to build the knowledge and skills of current and future nurses.

Part of being a nurse educator means being comfortable in a leadership position. You not only impart your nursing content knowledge, but you also want to help nurses grow their social and emotional skills. Nurses need to not only work well with patients and families, but they must work together as a team in order to ensure the best health outcomes. As a nurse educator, here is what you will teach your students about growing teamwork:

1. Get Out of the Individual Mindset

Nurses have many tasks to complete. It can be easy for them to focus only on their individual to-do list. However, nurses who look at their unit as a whole, rather than focus on their roles individually, will help grow and sustain their team.

2. Help Where You Can

Nurses who have a light workload may try to rest in anticipation of more work coming but, nursing teamwork requires everybody to pitch in. Teach nurses to be proactive and help each other when their workload is lighter than others.

3. Anticipate Needs

Nurses do not have time to teach each other on the job. Instead, they are reacting to patient needs first and foremost. Teach nurses to anticipate the needs of their patients and fellow team members and take initiative to get the job done.

4. Create a Cohesive Environment

Nurses who work together cohesively demonstrate to patients and families that they can manage healthcare issues effectively. This can be extremely comforting in times of stress and put families' minds at ease. Seeing a group of nurses who know what they are doing and doing it well will help patients and their companions who may be nervous or stressed from the situation.

5. Connecting with the Team

Teach nurses to have an awareness of other team members so members of the unit can work together to develop a plan early and address challenges. It is important to be in that mentality because when nurses work together well, they have the potential to achieve any issues that may arise. 

6. When in Doubt, Ask

No one person will be able to manage every task, nor have an answer to every problem. Encourage nurses to support one another by encouraging them to connect throughout the shift and ask questions when in doubt.

If you dream of educating the future nursing workforce, then a Master of Science in Nursing with an Emphasis in Nursing Education can set you off on the right path. Join us for the degree program at Grand Canyon University today.