Applying TeamSTEPPS to Improve Communication in Clinical Practice
Applying TeamSTEPPS
During the Serenity Care Calamity scenario, one of the key problems diagnosed was a communication breakdown in dispensing medication. The physician gave the nurse a verbal medication order but failed to repeat the order to him as a way of verification, resulting in confusion regarding the dosage and schedule. It has been well-known that communication breakdowns such as this are a major cause of avoidable medical errors within healthcare facilities (Tariq et al., 2024). The lack of verification left a loophole whereby false assumptions might arise, and the chances of injuring the patient were high. Even minor misunderstandings during medication orders can rapidly spiral out of control, even in a fast-paced clinical environment. It serves as a reminder of the importance of structured Communication in sustaining patient safety and making sure that everyone on the team works with the same understanding.
The communication failure came in the way the physician issued instructions without ensuring that the nurse properly understood them, and the nurse did the same without clarifying. This kind of interaction is an example of a widespread trend in healthcare in which time pressure results in unfinished communication exchanges (Zajac et al., 2021). The nurse depended on the interpretation instead of verification, and this posed the risk of error and delayed proper care. I have observed in practice clinical scenarios that might lead to near misses, especially when there is a verbal order. It is easy to lose or misinterpret important details without a system to check their accuracy. The absence of any follow-up communication in the specified situation illustrates how the teamwork issues may directly affect the efficiency and patient safety rates.
To solve this problem, the closed-loop communication tool of TeamSTEPPS may be used successfully to maintain clarity and responsibility. Closed-loop Communication involves communicating to the receiver, who repeats to the receiver, and the receiver responds with a confirmation to help establish accuracy and mutual understanding (Salik & Ashurst, 2023). Had this strategy been employed, the nurse would repeat the medication order, drug name, dosage, and schedule, and the physician would verify or correct immediately. It eliminates uncertainty and minimizes the chances of making mistakes before they happen. I have discovered that teams that adopt this approach are more comfortable expressing themselves and commit fewer errors, particularly during stressful circumstances. The deployment of this tool would enhance Communication, efficiency in the workflow, and patient safety to a substantial extent.
Impact on Patient Safety and Teamwork
The communication breakdown that was witnessed in the scenario has dire consequences regarding patient safety, especially when it comes to medication errors. In situations of poor Communication, patients can be given wrong treatment, intervention time can be missed, or worse-case scenarios can happen, which can be avoided with the right systems (Howick et al., 2024). Subsequently, the absence of confirmation in the case may have led to the administration of incorrect dosage that may harm or deteriorate the condition of the patient. Clinically, such errors cannot be considered only as technical but as failures of safety culture and accountability. Medication safety is considered to be highly dependent on proper Communication between medical professionals, and the use of structured tools to ensure their regular use is critical. This situation supports the significance of attention and effective Communication to prevent patients from suffering unnecessary damage.
Teamwork is instrumental in avoiding errors associated with Communication and the provision of quality care to the patient. Hierarchical barriers that can cause a lack of clarification are diminished with the use of structured communication tools such as closed-loop Communication, which fosters collective responsibility (Meneses-La-Riva et al., 2025). The active verification of information by the team members will result in an atmosphere of support and responsibility towards one another. Teams that focus on effective Communication work more effectively and react better to pressure. It is also a method of creating trust between team members, which is essential in the high-paced clinical environment. With the regular implementation of TeamSTEPPS strategies, healthcare providers will be able to enhance teamwork and minimize the chances of making mistakes. Finally, patient safety and a more dependable healthcare system will result from good teamwork and effective Communication.
References
Howick, J., Bennett-Weston, A., Solomon, J., Nockels, K., Bostock, J., & Keshtkar, L. (2024). How does Communication affect patient safety? Protocol for a systematic review and logic model. BMJ Open, 14(5), e085312. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085312
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
Salik, I., & Ashurst, J. V. (2023, January 23). Closed-loop communication training in medical simulation. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549899/
Tariq, R. A., Vashisht, R., Sinha, A., & Scherbak, Y. (2024, February 12). Medication dispensing Errors and prevention. StatPearls – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK519065/
Zajac, S., Woods, A., Tannenbaum, S., Salas, E., & Holladay, C. L. (2021). Overcoming Challenges to Teamwork in Healthcare: A Team Effectiveness Framework and Evidence-Based Guidance. Frontiers in Communication, 6. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomm.2021.606445
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