TEAM NURSING CONFERENCE

INTRODUCTION:-

The team nursing conference as a teaching tool offers valuable opportunities for
learning . The ability to observe , report and analyze the significant findings, is put to its
greatest test as students are confronted with this daily responsibility.

The team idea as applied in the field of nursing is a fairly recent origin , but groups of
individuals in a loose pattern of organization with undefined relationship has existed in our
hospital wards almost ever since inception. The clinical nursing conference has come to be
recognized as a pivotal component of total teaching plan in clinical nursing. Application of the
basic concept of clinical nursing conference and the principles of group dynamics is extended to
the clinical setting as the student pursue clinical nursing experience with the framework of the
nursing team and participate in the nursing team conference.

The most common team activity is problem solving in which, through group process ,
plan for patient care are developed according to the stated patient goals . Implementation of the
plan is examined and evaluated for its effectiveness. The learner is evaluated in terms of his or
her participation in the group in reporting observations , making relationship among data, making
proposals for actions, and evaluating actions as they are reported.

The composition of the team may vary . Whatever the composition of the team , the
process in which it is engaged is essentially the same , i.e., shared managerial decision making .
managerial decision may be defined as “decision for therapeutic interventions , or to prevent
or to alter disease”-(Feinstein). The learners participation may range from a sharing process to
the highly developed skill of collaboration. The nature of the participation is determined by the
stated behavioral objective for the experience.

TEAM NURSING CONFERENCE:-

Definition

Team nursing conference is “a group discussion using problem solving to determine the
ways of providing care for the patients to whom students are assigned as a part of their clinical
experience.”

Objectives of team nursing conference:-

Team nursing conference ,

• Identifies the patient’s nursing care problem

• Recognizes the ability and limitation of all students
• Helps to communicate ideas , information related to patient care
• Utilizes scientific information to influence the patient care
• Makes generalization from specific information that is factual
• Helps to report , interpret , channelize and carry out hospital and health care
problem
• Teaches what is required to help team members fulfill their roles
• Helps to plan nursing care co- operatively with other team members
• Brings also maximum creative potential of the team

Purposes of team nursing conference:-

1. To guide in teaching
2. To acquire more knowledge
3. To discover the interest , needs and problems of the individual student
4. To help the student to help himself or herself

Research eviedence:-

Perciful EG, Nester PA.The effect of an innovative clinical teaching method on nursing
students' knowledge and critical thinking skills.Journal of Nursing Education. 1996
Jan;35(1):23-8.
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study was to determine the effect of an
experimental clinical teaching method on nursing students' knowledge and critical thinking
skills during clinical rotations in psychiatric nursing. Ausubel's Assimilation Theory of
Learning provided the theoretical framework for this research. The subjects (N = 83) were
from the baccalaureate nursing graduating classes of 1992 and 1993 of a medium-sized state
university in the mid-atlantic region of the United States. The experimental clinical teaching
method used computer-assisted instruction (CAI) throughout and a collaboration model
(student-faculty-service) during initial clinical experiences. Knowledge was measured by the
score for the psychiatric nursing component of the Mosby Assess Test and two parts of the
National League for Nursing's (NLN) Psychiatric Exam (theory and total scores). Critical
thinking was measured by two parts of the NLN's Psychiatric Nursing Exam (the score for
assess, analyze, and evaluate as one measure and planning and implementation for the other
measure). The comparison group scored significantly higher than the control group on
assessing, analyzing, and evaluating (t = 2.15; p < .03), as well as planning and
 implementation (t = 2.33; p < .02), measures for critical thinking skills. However, there was no
significant difference between the study groups with respect to knowledge. The findings
support the appropriateness of Ausubel's Assimilation Theory with this clinical teaching
method. Discussion relevant to the application of the study findings to nursing education and
future research is presented.

Principles of team nursing conference:-

1. Establishment of a definite purpose and specific issues to be covered

2. Adequate preparation by the leader for all conferences expedites fulfillment of
expectations for the conference
3. Knowledge of the student
4. Provide sufficient time
5. Establish good rapport
6. Good listening
7. Positive effect
8. Recording of data

Team nursing conference (as a method of clinical teaching):-

1) It is an opportunity for informal discussion by free exchange of knowledge and

experience on a common problem
2) Sources of problem solving discussion( team nursing conference):

• Objectives of clinical nursing programme

• Patients
• Students

3) To design a nursing care conference

• There should be a consultation visit from a clinical nurse practitioner

• It should be planned around some aspect of patient care or scientific focus on
nursing problem presented by the patient
• It must be based on the course of an “action discussion” ie assessing the nursing
problem , helping the student to examine the client problem.

Major types of team nursing conference:-

1. Team leader direction conference:-

 Are held at the beginning of the work shift and an hour prior to the ending of the
shift. The purpose is to give and receive pertinent , accurate information concerning the
care of patients and to create an atmosphere to encourage collective and cooperative
participation

2. Patient centered conference

Planned meeting to identify problems and evaluate patient care. These conference
provide means for all the team who are directly contributing to the care of a group of
patients who have benefit from the experience of others. The members as a group aim to
formulate nursing intervention for one or two patients analyze and the nursing care given.
The clinical nurse coordinator and the supervisor are the important members of the patient
centered conference.

3. Nursing service management conference

It should be a part of the planned scheduled meetings for each unit or section. The
supervisor assisted by the clinical coordinator is the leader here. The topics
presented may include standards of patient care , policies , procedures, safety
measures, infection control, nursing audit evaluation, unit staffing measures and
clarification of new personal policies

4. Inter shift and inter departmental conferences

Which is necessary to pass on pertinent information from one individual or group to

another.

Planning and preparation for team nursing conference:-

1) Organizers should prepare well in advance

2) Before presenting the content / subject should be planned on objectives
3) The student must be aware of the data regarding the case
4) Student must be given an opportunity to work in the ward for little time before presenting
the conference

Techniques of team nursing conference:-

1. The teacher should establish good rapport with the student

 2. Allow him to talk freely
3. Teacher should not show any prejudice, emotional reactions or bias

Technique used to conduct team nursing conference:-

1. It should be a consultation tool for solving any problem

2. Teacher should be flexible and helps during the discussion
3. Teacher involves all the students to solve the problem by questioning , guiding ,
rechannelising, if needed
4. The group should be sufficiently small( 10-15 students)
5. Provides an ample time to think on a problem so that to draw the potentials of the
students
6. The usual duration of the team nursing conference is 30 -45 mts

Phases of team nursing conference:-

a) Opening phase
b) Working phase
c) Closing phase

Opening phase

It is defined as the first two minutes of the conference. The task here is to make a
commitment to work on a problem relating to a particular patient. This often sets a tone for the
entire session.

Working phase

The task of this phase is to arrive at a consensus on problem identification and solution.
Once the patient is selected , it is found that a great deal of time during this phase is spent in
delineating the problem clearly.

If the group have differences in opinion the solution will be inconsistent or incomplete. It
is helpful the if group focus their discussion by asking direct questions ,rephrasing the word said
by the group and summarizing. Sometimes the data the group is incomplete the group try to fill
in. if the consultant and the group view the absent data as critical to the solution , time is better
spent to get the facts than speculations. Conference time can be used to identify just what is
needed.
 The problems are identified and the group can often reach its own solutions. Offering
concrete solutions to the problem allow the student to feel they are getting something from the
group . The teacher should ensure the opinion of the students about the validity of her
suggestions.

Closing phase

Once the group has worked through problem solving and has decided on the solution , the
next phase is closing phase. The main task here is to delegate the responsibility to one or more
students for acting on the problems continuously.

Practical uses:-

1. Diagnostic and remedial teaching

2. Supplemental teaching

Advantages of team nursing conference:-

1. It helps the students to collect information in a creative way, it validates the data
systematically.
2. It provides a real practical experiences and involvement to the students
3. It fortifies the thinking of students so that the judgement capacity of the student
increases
4. Each member of the conference will actively participate

Research eviedence:-

Title;Clinical Nurse Educators' and School Instructors' Teaching Methods for Nursing Students.
Ishida Sadayo. Sekine Ryuko . Tsukamoto yasuko etal .( 2001 ) . Annual Report of University of
Shizuoka. vol. no 14-2 ; PAGE. 63-74

The aim of this study was to identify the actual conditions of clinical nurse educators' or
school instructors' teaching in clinical practice through students' responses. It was also to discuss
the effective teaching methods. The study was conducted 94 both two-year and three-year course
students by using questionnaires after they completed required clinical practices. In conference,
their activities were to approve good points, indicate ground for decision or weak point, advice
for problems and pass on their experience or their view of nursing. On the other hand, in care,
their activities which discoraged students' leaning will were to assume irritable attitude or
disrespected behavior and indicate only students' weak points. In conference, their one-sided
points were indicated. Almost all the students were satisfied with their clinical practice, they
demanded that school instructor would be a good supporter and proper nurse for the clinical
nurse educator should be selected for nursing students. These results suggest that the effective
teaching methods to enhance students' learning will are to recognize or support their thinking and
encourage.

Disadvantages of team nursing conference:-

1. It have little use if the students donot accustom the situation

2. Conference hours may be utilized for class room teaching

CONCLUSION:-

Team nursing conference helps to provide comprehensive , continuous and coordinated

nursing process to meet the total needs of the patient. It also promote team spirit among the
student nurses and the nursing staffs.

BIBLIGRAPHY

1. Barrett Jean. Ward management and teaching. 6th edition. Konark Publishers Pvt
Ltd: NewDelhi; 1994
2. Basavanthappa B.T nursing education. 4th edition. Jaypee publication : NewDelhi;
2003
3. Dev N.V . Hospital Management. 6th edition. Deep & Deep publication: NewDelhi ;
2000
4. Ellis J.R. Hartley C.L . managing and co- ordinating Nursing Care. 3rd edition.
Lippincott publication : Philadelphia ; 2003
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Publication : U.S ; 2001
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adjustments and trends for nurses in India.Gajanana book publishers & distributors :
NewDelhi ; 1990
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TEAM
NURSING
CONFERENCE

Submitted to:-
Submitted by:-
Mrs. Philomina Fernandes
Ms. Shesly P. Jose
 Asst. Prof
I Year MSc Nursing
NUINS
NUINS

Submitted on: 26 -02-2010