Critical thinking, communication and honest working relationships between doctors and nurses leads to better patient care. This sounds like common sense, but it is also the result of an analysis done by Dr. Barbara Loeb and RNs Mary Sue Dailey and Cheryl Peterman.
In brief, the three main areas that need improvement and hold potential for better patient care are:
1) Critical thinking–focusing on solving problems rather than blaming, analyzing root causes, looking at issues in different lights
2) Communication–doctors and nurses being open with each other about their concerns and sharing vital information, rather than assuming that important information is already known to everybody
3) Collaboration and collegiality–mutual respect and positive interactions between doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers.
As we have discussed before, communication and teamwork are an essential aspect of good medical care.