Assignment Description:

Teamwork Plan Essay

Write a 1250-word essay addressing each of the following points/questions. Separate each section in your paper with a clear heading that allows your professor to know which bullet you are addressing in that section of your paper. Support your ideas with at least FOUR (4) Peer-reviewed scholarly sources in your essay. Make sure to reference the citations using the APA writing style for the essay. The cover page and reference page do not count toward the minimum word amount. Review the rubric criteria for this assignment.

Developing teams is essential for providing healthcare that is patient-centered, safe, timely, effective, efficient, and equitable. Teams are essential for collaboration to solve problems from a variety of perspectives. In this assignment, review the literature and select a team-based framework that can be utilized to enhance a patient safety concern.

Describe the patient safety concern and who would be needed on an interdisciplinary team to improve the issue.

Consider the qualities of a successful team and how this will facilitate process improvement.

As the team leader, what will you expect from your team, and how will you communicate, facilitate, and evaluate the team outcomes?

This is my Topic

“ This quality improvement project is to implement the use of an evidence-based self-care tool, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), to improve diabetes self-care behaviors among adults with type 2 diabetes.”

References

Borkowski, N. & Meese, K.A. (2021). Organizational behavior in healthcare (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9781284183245. Read chapters 16, 17, & 18.

Weberg, D. & Davidson, S. (2019). Leadership for evidence-based innovation in nursing and health professions (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN: 9781284171365. Read chapter 16.

Additional Material: The following can be found in the Aspen library:

Orsini, C., & Rodrigues, V. (2020). Supporting motivation in teams working remotely: The role of basic psychological needs. Medical Teacher, 42(7), 828–829.

Peer-Reviewed Scholarly articles from 2021 to 2026 only. (Within the last five years) Please review your spelling and the rubric. Please use North American peer-reviewed journals ONLY.DO NOT use any European Journal.

Start by reading and following these instructions:

1. Review the rubric and the specifications below to ensure that your response aligns with all assignment expectations.

2. Create your assignment submission and be sure to cite your sources, use APA style as required, check your spelling, and review the rubric.

The following specifications are required for this assignment:

· Length: 1250 words; answers must thoroughly address the questions in a clear, concise manner

· Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA style. These do not count toward the minimum word amount for this assignment.

· References: Use the appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. Include at least FOUR (4) peer-reviewed scholarly sources to support your claims.

🟥 Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements

Before starting, carefully review the assignment description and rubric. Your essay must:

Be 1250 words (excluding title and reference pages)
Address all prompts with separate headings for each section
Use at least four (4) peer-reviewed North American sources from 2021–2026
Follow APA style for citations and references

The goal is to demonstrate how interdisciplinary teamwork improves patient safety, using your selected quality improvement project on diabetes self-care (SDSCA tool) as the focus.

Step 2: Define the Patient Safety Concern

Begin your essay by clearly describing the patient safety concern:

In your case: Adults with type 2 diabetes often struggle with self-care behaviors, which can lead to poor glycemic control and increased complications.
Highlight why this is a significant patient safety issue (e.g., risks of hypoglycemia, hospitalization, or long-term complications).

Step 3: Identify the Interdisciplinary Team

Explain who would be involved in addressing this concern and why:

Primary care provider – oversees patient care and monitors health outcomes
Nurse or diabetes educator – provides education and coaching on self-care practices
Dietitian – supports nutrition planning and adherence
Pharmacist – assists with medication management and adherence
Behavioral health specialist – addresses motivation, habits, and mental health barriers

Include a short justification for each role, linking it to how they improve patient safety and diabetes self-care outcomes.

Step 4: Discuss Qualities of a Successful Team

Include a section that describes the characteristics of effective teams:

Clear communication – ensures all members understand patient needs
Mutual respect and trust – fosters collaboration and conflict resolution
Shared goals – aligns team efforts on improving patient self-care
Accountability – ensures follow-through on interventions and evaluations

Use literature from Borkowski & Meese (2021) and Weberg & Davidson (2019) to support your discussion. Include at least one recent peer-reviewed study that reinforces the importance of team qualities in healthcare.

Step 5: Outline Your Expectations as Team Leader

As the leader, clearly explain:

Expectations – active participation, timely updates, evidence-based interventions
Communication methods – regular team meetings, secure messaging, shared documentation
Facilitation strategies – coaching, providing resources, resolving conflicts
Evaluation methods – monitor SDSCA scores, track improvement in patient self-care behaviors, feedback surveys

Provide examples of how you would ensure accountability and support team success.

Step 6: Structure Your Essay for Clarity

Use clear headings for each section:

Patient Safety Concern
Interdisciplinary Team Composition
Qualities of a Successful Team
Leadership Expectations and Team Facilitation
Evaluation of Team Outcomes

This makes it easy for your professor to follow and aligns with rubric expectations.

Step 7: Use Evidence-Based Sources

You must support claims with at least four peer-reviewed scholarly sources (North American, 2021–2026). Suggested sources:

Borkowski, N., & Meese, K.A. (2021). Organizational behavior in healthcare (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Weberg, D., & Davidson, S. (2019). Leadership for evidence-based innovation in nursing and health professions (2nd ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Orsini, C., & Rodrigues, V. (2020). Supporting motivation in teams working remotely: The role of basic psychological needs. Medical Teacher, 42(7), 828–829.
Recent peer-reviewed journals (2021–2026) on diabetes self-care interventions, patient safety, or interdisciplinary teamwork, e.g.:
- Journal of Nursing Care Quality
- Journal of Interprofessional Care
- The Diabetes Educator

Step 8: Follow APA Style

Include a title page, in-text citations, and reference page
Ensure grammar, spelling, and punctuation are correct
Use Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced, per APA 7th edition guidelines

Step 9: Review and Submit

Before submitting:

Check word count (1250 minimum, excluding title & references)
Ensure all prompts are answered thoroughly
Confirm APA formatting
Proofread for clarity, flow, and conciseness

🔗 Helpful Resources for Your Essay

APA Style Guide: https://apastyle.apa.org/
PubMed (North American peer-reviewed journals): https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
Journal of Interprofessional Care: https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ijic20/current
The Diabetes Educator: https://journals.sagepub.com/home/tde
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement: https://psnet.ahrq.gov/

Enhancing Patient Safety Through Interdisciplinary Teamwork in Diabetes Care