Dear Colleagues,

our unit (Ped/Neonat. ICU) is currently in the process of re- structuring the interdisciplinary teamwork. We like to see our work as a relational triangle between Nurses, Physicians and Patients (& Parents) which can (and should) be optimised. We are focussing on optimising our feedback culture, roles and competencies, decision making, as well as our working procedures.

We are searching for a model which focuses on the topics mentioned above. The goals which should be achieved by implementing such a model are:

Ø To ensure an outstanding care of our patients & their parents

Ø To optimise the interdisciplinary teamwork

Ø To bring a flat hierarchy into use

Ø To increase communication skills between the disciplines

Ø To shorten the decision making process

Ø To warrant a higher job satisfaction

Ø To rise the climate of reciprocal estimation

Ø Responsibility should be carried collectively

Ø The model should be adaptable and viable

If someone feels that his/her unit reflects and lives the philosophy mentioned above and has a written policy regarding a certain model which could help us to implement it at our unit, please feel free to contact me privately or via this forum. We would like to send someone to your unit “as a spy” to see what the secret of your success is…

Very interesting project. I think group dynamics in the NICU is far more important than most would admit! Decision-making in neonatal care certainly benefit from better team work.

I will be spying on your unit, once you have put the principles above into practise.