NCLEX Review Guide: Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration in Complex Cases

Team Members and Roles

• Registered Nurse (RN): Coordinates patient care, administers medications, monitors patient status, and serves as primary communicator between disciplines
• Physician/Provider: Diagnoses conditions, prescribes treatments, and makes medical decisions regarding patient care plans
• Social Worker: Addresses psychosocial needs, discharge planning, and connects patients with community resources
• Physical Therapist: Evaluates mobility, develops rehabilitation plans, and improves functional independence
• Pharmacist: Reviews medication regimens, identifies drug interactions, and provides medication education
• Dietitian: Assesses nutritional status, develops meal plans, and provides nutritional counseling for therapeutic diets

SBAR Communication Framework

1. Situation: State the current patient condition and reason for communication
2. Background: Provide relevant medical history and current treatments
3. Assessment: Share clinical findings and nursing observations
4. Recommendation: Suggest specific actions or interventions needed

Coordinating Care for Multi-System Conditions

• Care Coordination: The nurse facilitates communication between specialties to ensure all aspects of patient care are addressed without duplication or gaps
• Discharge Planning: Begins on admission and involves multiple disciplines to ensure safe transition from hospital to home or extended care facility
• Priority Setting: Life-threatening conditions take precedence, followed by safety concerns, then comfort and quality of life issues

Role Boundaries vs. Collaborative Overlap

NGN Success Strategies

• Always identify which discipline is most appropriate for specific patient needs in NGN scenarios
• Focus on the nursing role as coordinator rather than trying to perform other disciplines' functions
• Remember that collaboration means working together, not working independently

Avoiding NGN Mistakes