Applying TeamSTEPPS and Interprofessional Collaboration in a Clinical Scenario
Section 1: Applying TeamSTEPPS
A significant problem, identified in the case of the Serenity Care Calamity scenario, was a communication breakdown resulting in delayed patient care and possible damage. The information about the patient was not clearly conveyed during a transition, which led to misunderstandings regarding the patient’s condition and the interventions required. A potential oversight is a minor though critical detail, including the development of lethargy or unstable vital signs that were not completely communicated at handoff. Clinically, this is common when there is a hurry in communication or an assumption of what other people already know, particularly when the shift is busy. Formal communication tools are meant to minimize such gaps by facilitating understanding and clarity among team members (Atinga et al., 2024). The team members, in this case, did not check, verify information, or make sure that they were on the same page, which led to missed cues and delayed reactions. This kind of communication breakdown can develop very fast and endanger patient safety.
To resolve this problem, one can refer to the TeamSTEPPS tool SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) to standardize provider communication. The nurse in this case might apply SBAR in calling the provider to inquire about the state of the patient to make sure nothing of significance is left out. The Situation would explicitly indicate the urgency issue, e.g., the loss of responsiveness or an abnormal vital condition. Background would contain pertinent medical history and recent clinical changes. The Assessment would take into consideration the interpretation of the nurse concerning the current condition of the patient. In contrast, the Recommendation would indicate the necessary steps, such as an immediate assessment or treatment. It has been demonstrated that formal tools such as SBAR enhance the accuracy of communication and decrease clinical errors by making the flow of information transparent and complete (Tapia et al., 2025). The practical significance of SBAR is that it decreases ambiguity, promotes confidence in communication, and ensures that vital choices are made accurately and promptly.
Section 2: QIP Interprofessional Collaboration
Interprofessional collaboration is necessary when discussing the quality improvement project (QIP) topics, especially when concerned with the elimination of communication-related errors when treating patients. An example of a relevant QIP would be to decrease patient deterioration delays in identifying such deterioration, which occurs due to the lack of interdisciplinary communication during the transition of shifts. The quality of healthcare delivery requires the activities of the whole team of nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other professionals working on patient outcomes. In cases where collaboration is poor, loopholes in the provision of care tend to occur, creating delays or avoidable complications. To ensure continuity of care, effective teamwork needs to be characterized by effective communication, identified roles, and shared accountability across disciplines (Meneses-La-Riva et al., 2025). An example is that a nurse can identify minor changes in a patient, but without appropriate communication with the physician, relevant interventions may not be carried out. On the same note, failure to liaise with pharmacists can lead to higher chances of medication problems. Close teamwork will keep every team member updated, on track, and motivated.
The tool Huddle provided by TeamSTEPPS can be adopted as a useful and effective method to ensure interprofessional collaboration. A huddle is a short, focused team discussion that is employed to provide updates, discuss issues, and agree on priorities of care in real-time. In such a situation, when a patient starts to deteriorate, a huddle may be called and involve the nurse, the physician, and other involved employees. This enables the clarification of roles instantly, joint decision-making, and the concurrence of further procedures of patient management. There have been indications that huddles enhance awareness of the situation and team coordination to prevent errors prior to their emergence and make teams more responsible (Pimentel et al., 2021). In reality, even brief huddles establish a collective mental model between the providers, eliminating uncertainty and enhancing productivity. In this way, communication is enhanced, teams will be encouraged to work together, and safer and more efficient patient care delivery will be supported.
References
Atinga, R. A., Gmaligan, M. N., Ayawine, A., & Yambah, J. K. (2024). “It is the patient that suffers from poor communication”: Analyzing communication gaps and associated consequences in handover events from nurses’ experiences. SSM – Qualitative Research in Health, 6, 100482. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100482
Meneses-La-Riva, M. E., Fernández-Bedoya, V. H., Suyo-Vega, J. A., Ocupa-Cabrera, H. G., Grijalva-Salazar, R. V., & Di Deus Ocupa-Meneses, G. (2025). Enhancing healthcare efficiency: The relationship between effective communication and teamwork among nurses in Peru. Nursing Reports, 15(2), 59. https://doi.org/10.3390/nursrep15020059
Pimentel, C. B., Snow, A. L., Carnes, S. L., Shah, N. R., Loup, J. R., Vallejo-Luces, T. M., Madrigal, C., & Hartmann, C. W. (2021). Huddles and their effectiveness at the frontlines of clinical care: a scoping review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 36(9), 2772–2783. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06632-9
Tapia, E. C. H., Yosa, J. L., García, M. H. O., Morocho, N. J. C., & Calle, Y. a. S. (2025). Effectiveness of nursing documentation frameworks (SBAR, SOAP, and PIE) in enhancing clinical handoffs and patient safety. Cureus, 17(8), e89957. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.89957
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How do collaborative practice agreements (CPAs) influence APRN autonomy and efficiency in clinical practice, and how does interdisciplinary collaboration improve patient outcomes and continuity of care? In your response, include at least four scholarly sources published within the last 5 years to support your discussion, and consider the role of structured communication tools and teamwork in enhancing patient safety .