Teamwork project

Sounds like the word DELEGATION needs to be defined with all staff members. If the RN's are in a tizzy about doing the tech's work, then they should reconsider their line of work. I empty garbage cans, wipe floors, and gluteal folds. I also titrate drips, manage vents and IABPs. If there are people to help, then great, if not, I always manage. Perhaps each staff member's role needs to be defined more clearly, so as they are all on the same page. Have you asked for the floor staff for their input and suggestions? Best of luck.

I'll look through my note from one of my grad classes. We talked about delegation, teamwork and communicaton issues. One of the things we discussed is that having a meeting to talk about it doesn't always work. There's always those that are too shy or too inhibited to speak up, and those that are too harsh or dominate the meeting. So perhaps start out with a questionnaire of some kind that asks what people feel is the problem, what they feel some solutions are, how they feel they contribute to the problem and how they feel they can contribute to the solution. Make it anonymous.

then compile those answers and go from there. Maybe spend a day or so when everyone switches roles and tries to see it from the other sides point of view (I know nurses hate that, we really don't think we should have to do those "lower" jobs, but hey, that's always good for us and brings us down a notch).

Then, maybe assign teams, where nurses and techs are responsible as a team and all are equal in both the work and the resonsibility, no more blaming the techs or blaming the nurses, instead the whole team steps up. Write out a checklist or something that has to be completed and turned in to the charge nurse (and signed by all team members and initialed by who did what) by the end of the shift.

Allow them to be creative, participate in making up the checklists, brainstorming ideas in the checklists, etc.

I'll see what else I can find in my notes this week, good luck!