To reflect on the interprofessional roles (MD, SW, OT, PT, RT, RD, PharmD) you saw on the unit and describe communication between them and the nurse.

Focused | informatic | Herzing University–Minneapolis

In my clinical rotation the team consisted of a registered dietitian and pharmacist, as well as a doctor. Each professional had specific roles in the patient’s care, with the medical doctor taking the primary role in coordinating the patient’s care. Social workers were responsible for offering support, counseling, and resources to patients and their families. The occupational therapist worked on promoting the patient’s independence and performing activities of daily living (ADLs). Physical therapists helped with mobility training and ambulation, respiratory therapy and chest physiotherapy. The respiratory therapy helped improve the lung function of the patient by using inhalers to oxygenate and clear airways. The registered dietitian was responsible for ensuring that the patient’s nutritional requirements were met. Lastly, the pharmacist ensured that the patient’s medication was appropriately prescribed and monitored for side effects.

My nursing focus was on managing the patient’s daily care, including administering medications, performing assessments, monitoring the patient’s vital signs, and communicating with other healthcare professionals. Working collaboratively with the other professionals involved in the patient’s care, I was able to provide the best possible treatment. For instance, I coordinated with the respiratory therapist to monitor the patient’s respiratory status, with the physical therapist to ensure that the patient was achieving the required mobility goals, and with the registered dietitian to ensure that the patient’s nutritional requirements were being met.

Communication between healthcare professionals was necessary to ensure that the patient’s care was coordinated and streamlined. Communication was done by me as a registered nurse through electronic health records and personal interactions. For instance, I would input medication administration information into the EHR, report vital sign trends and new assessments to the medical doctor, and communicate the patient’s activity tolerance to the physical therapist. The respiratory therapists, pharmacists, registered dietitians, etc., are also healthcare professionals.