Nurses score highest in teamwork

AORN Journal,  July, 2006  

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A survey measuring OR personnel attitudes toward their work environment reveals that surgeons exhibit the Lowest Level of teamwork and nurses the highest, according to an April 28, 2006, news release from Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore. The survey, which contains 65 questions relating to teamwork climate, safety climate, job satisfaction, perceptions of management, stress recognition, and working conditions, was modified from a questionnaire used by the airline industry to analyze safety. A total of 2,135 perioperative health care personnel from 60 hospitals in a Catholic health care system throughout 16 states completed the survey during the summer of 2004.

Only 65% of those surveyed responded that surgeons exhibit a high or very high Level of teamwork. The highest level of teamwork (ie, 85%) was attributed to certified RN anesthetists, closely followed by general surgical nurses (ie, 83.5%). Anesthesiologists rated third in teamwork at 79%.

By 2007, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations will require all hospitals to measure their culture in a similar manner in an effort to improve work area issues and safety. At present, approximately 700 hospitals are using the survey, and more are expected to adopt it in the future.

Study of Operating Room Safety Shows Nurses Rate First, Surgeons last (news release, Baltimore: Johns Hopkins Medicine, April 28, 2006) http://www.hop kinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2006/05_01A_06 .HTML (accessed 10 May 2006).

COPYRIGHT 2006 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
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