As an ICU outreach nurse (or other consultant who provides support on multiple wards), you notice that the ward-based nursing staff appear reticent to report problems or access support through the ward hierarchy. You broach this subject with several nurses and they indicate they feel powerless and are afraid of the senior staff in both the nursing and medical professions. How would you support
the nursing staff in this environment?
What will be an ideal response?
Suggested response: (i) Encourage the nursing staff to raise this with the nurse manager of the ward – this may require your support as an independent observer or the support of someone from another neutral area; (ii) raise the concerns yourself with the nurse manager; (iii) assess your service activity data to determine if there is a pattern of activity relating to the ward that is different to others – it is always useful to have facts when you have these sorts of discussions; (iv) suggest that the ward team might benefit from some team-based simulation training in dealing with deteriorating patients – this training should involve both clinical and communication skills development.
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