Motivation and Communication: How Interdisciplinary Teams Can Thrive
I’m Sarah Willard – Sodexo Dietetic Intern, University of Rhode Island Master’s student, military spouse, and mother of three. As a proud RD to be, I’m ecstatic to represent Sodexo while completing my clinical rotations at West Jefferson Medical Center in the greater New Orleans area. I’m currently finishing my advanced clinical rotations in the units – SCU, CCU, and ICU – and it has been my favorite part of the internship, thus far! I love that I get to use math, critical thinking, and teamwork on a daily basis. Due to the critical nature of my patients’ diagnoses, I rely heavily upon frequent and concise communication with nursing staff, specialists, and family members. It has been a rewarding experience to see a patient’s status improve as a direct result of great teamwork. Sometimes, however, this relationship is not as seamless as I make it sound.
Due to a recent turnover in staff, newly hired healthcare providers are learning about the RD’s role in patient care at our center. The dietitians at West Jeff are working to track how well they are advocating for their patients through a “Nutrition Wins” system. This system was set in place by Simone Walker, our clinical nutrition manager, as a way to boost morale and motivate us to speak up to have our recommendations heard. We work together as a team to reach at least 35 recommendations implemented by the end of each month. Once achieved, we celebrate – usually with baked goods – wipe the slate clean, and start the next month.
When we first started, we were barely making it to our goal. We started calling doctors, communicating more often with nursing staff, meeting with specialty teams, and speaking up in rounds. Slowly but surely, our tally marks started to increase. The following month: we met our goal with ease, had some beignets, and wiped the slate clean. By November, nurses were calling and paging for recommendations almost daily. More physicians began to include a nutrition line in their “Impression and Plan” notes. We were thrilled! Our patients are getting medical nutrition therapy and education in a timelier manner all by building awareness through communication.
Next week I will begin my Clinical Management rotation. I’ve had the pleasure of working in all areas of the hospital and I have been able to assess where we can improve. Stepping into this new role, I’ve created an education brief for all our nursing staff here at West Jeff about wound care supplements: how they work, how to administer them, and why they are important to patient care. For our new kitchen staff, I have developed a training session about how to identify common allergen containing foods to reduce exposure rates. I believe with the recent turnover in staff, education could streamline our MNT interventions and enhance their outcomes.
The nutrition staff at West Jefferson Medical Center have welcomed me with open arms, and it has been an incredible experience. Preceptors, like Ms. Walker and her staff, continue to demonstrate modern health care through team-based care using motivation and positivity. Frankly, it is refreshing. The staff work diligently to build and sustain relationships with multiple healthcare team members which ultimately allow for better care. With each “Nutrition Win”, the culture of patient-centered care grows creating a more comprehensive, efficient, and tailored health care experience. When we promote, develop, and nurture collaborative teams that contribute to successful health outcomes of our patients, everybody wins!
Due to a recent turnover in staff, newly hired healthcare providers are learning about the RD’s role in patient care at our center. The dietitians at West Jeff are working to track how well they are advocating for their patients through a “Nutrition Wins” system. This system was set in place by Simone Walker, our clinical nutrition manager, as a way to boost morale and motivate us to speak up to have our recommendations heard. We work together as a team to reach at least 35 recommendations implemented by the end of each month. Once achieved, we celebrate – usually with baked goods – wipe the slate clean, and start the next month.
When we first started, we were barely making it to our goal. We started calling doctors, communicating more often with nursing staff, meeting with specialty teams, and speaking up in rounds. Slowly but surely, our tally marks started to increase. The following month: we met our goal with ease, had some beignets, and wiped the slate clean. By November, nurses were calling and paging for recommendations almost daily. More physicians began to include a nutrition line in their “Impression and Plan” notes. We were thrilled! Our patients are getting medical nutrition therapy and education in a timelier manner all by building awareness through communication.
Next week I will begin my Clinical Management rotation. I’ve had the pleasure of working in all areas of the hospital and I have been able to assess where we can improve. Stepping into this new role, I’ve created an education brief for all our nursing staff here at West Jeff about wound care supplements: how they work, how to administer them, and why they are important to patient care. For our new kitchen staff, I have developed a training session about how to identify common allergen containing foods to reduce exposure rates. I believe with the recent turnover in staff, education could streamline our MNT interventions and enhance their outcomes.
The nutrition staff at West Jefferson Medical Center have welcomed me with open arms, and it has been an incredible experience. Preceptors, like Ms. Walker and her staff, continue to demonstrate modern health care through team-based care using motivation and positivity. Frankly, it is refreshing. The staff work diligently to build and sustain relationships with multiple healthcare team members which ultimately allow for better care. With each “Nutrition Win”, the culture of patient-centered care grows creating a more comprehensive, efficient, and tailored health care experience. When we promote, develop, and nurture collaborative teams that contribute to successful health outcomes of our patients, everybody wins!
