Question 2
This week’s readings discuss “team thinking”. Rubenfeld & Scheffer (2015) in the 3nd edition of their book discuss Bensimon and Neumann’s eight roles that people can fulfill in team thinking to make the “team think” effective.
Bensimon and Neumann identified the following eight team thinking roles:
1. The definer (voices and creates the team’s reality)
2. The analyst (assesses all of the parts of the issue)
3. The interpreter (provides insight on how team members perceive outcomes)
4. The critic (redefines, reanalyzes and reinterprets)
5. The synthesizer (elicits all thinking perspectives and helps provide linkages for solutions)
6. The disparity monitor (assesses how team members perceive outcomes)
7. The task monitor (removes obstacles to team thinking and facilitates the teamwork)
8. The emotional monitor (address the human, personal, and emotional aspects of team thinking during the thinking process.
- Choose two of the roles and share an example from your nursing practice of someone fulfilling the roles.
- Why is this role necessary in order for the team thinking process to go smoothly?
- How do other members of the team perceive this person’s role?
Please do not include names in your discussion.
Please support your initial discussion and opinions with at least two citations from the assigned readings, or peer-reviewed professional nursing literature.
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
Effective teamwork is crucial in the medical profession to ensure patient safety and quality care. In order to achieve this, the concept of team thinking has been proposed, and Bensimon and Neumann have identified eight roles that can be fulfilled to make team thinking effective. In this response, two of these roles will be discussed, along with examples from nursing practice and their importance in ensuring smooth team thinking.
Answer:
Two roles identified by Bensimon and Neumann are the definer and the critic. The definer is responsible for creating the team’s reality, while the critic is responsible for redefining, reanalyzing, and reinterpretation. An example of a definer in nursing practice can be seen in a nurse who takes charge during a code blue situation and directs the team’s actions. They are responsible for defining the situation and creating an action plan that the team can follow. On the other hand, an example of a critic can be seen in a nurse who questions the pathophysiology of a patient’s condition and suggests a different treatment plan. They are responsible for reanalyzing and redefining the situation to ensure that all aspects are considered.
Both these roles are necessary in order for the team thinking process to go smoothly. The definer ensures that everyone is clear on what is happening and what needs to be done. This helps to prevent confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page. The critic ensures that all aspects of the situation are considered and that the team is not missing any important details. This helps to prevent errors and ensures that the patient receives the best possible care.
Other members of the team may perceive the definer as a leader who takes charge and ensures that everyone is working together efficiently. They may perceive the critic as being argumentative or difficult to work with, but ultimately they will appreciate the different perspective that the critic brings to the table. This can lead to better decision making and overall improved patient outcomes.
In conclusion, the roles of the definer and the critic are crucial in ensuring effective team thinking in the medical profession. Both of these roles are necessary to ensure that all aspects of the situation are considered and that the team is working together efficiently. While these roles may be perceived differently by other members of the team, they are ultimately important in providing quality patient care.
