Capella 4005 Assessment 4

Name

Capella university

NURS-FPX4005 Nursing Leadership: Focusing on People, Processes, and Organizations

Prof. Name

Date

Stakeholder Presentation

Hello and welcome. I appreciate the chance to present a proposal designed to improve communication and reduce staff burnout in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hackensack Meridian Health. This evidence-based plan promotes interdisciplinary collaboration to advance patient safety, staff well-being, and team coordination. This presentation is directed at essential stakeholders such as nurses, neonatologists, administrators, and staffing coordinators, whose support is vital to the success and sustainability of this initiative.

Presentation Overview

This presentation outlines key communication and staffing issues in the NICU that hinder optimal care outcomes. It proposes a collaborative solution rooted in evidence-based guidelines, presenting implementation steps, human and financial resource management, and methods for evaluating outcomes. The plan focuses on three pillars: improving communication, fostering team integration, and enhancing neonatal care through structured interventions.

Organizational Issue

High-acuity NICU environments necessitate robust communication systems and balanced staffing. However, fragmented communication and inconsistent documentation have resulted in treatment delays and increased staff stress. Inadequate workload distribution contributes to clinician burnout and errors in care delivery (Bell et al., 2023). Nearly half of NICU professionals report moderate-to-severe moral distress, and more than one-third experience burnout, with nurses disproportionately affected (Carletto et al., 2022). Instituting structured interdisciplinary systems, including standardized communication protocols and leadership-supported initiatives, enhances teamwork, psychological safety, and operational agility.

Consequences of Not Addressing the Issue

Ignoring these challenges leads to deteriorated team morale, increased healthcare costs, and higher staff turnover. An interdisciplinary model can address these problems by promoting teamwork, stability, and high-quality patient care. Nearly a quarter of NICU staff experience post-traumatic stress symptoms, and over a quarter report burnout (Ravaldi et al., 2023). These symptoms stem from repeated exposure to distressing clinical scenarios, high emotional demands, and inadequate organizational support. Additionally, lapses in communication compromise family engagement and disrupt care planning (Guttmann et al., 2024). Enhancing communication requires joint team strategies that center on empathy and family involvement.

Relevance of an Interdisciplinary Team Approach

Addressing NICU communication and burnout concerns necessitates an interdisciplinary strategy. A cohesive team of nurses, neonatologists, case managers, and administrative staff provides integrated, patient-centered care. This collaboration minimizes role confusion, enhances workflow efficiency, and ensures clarity through shared decision-making. Using structured interdisciplinary rounds with SBAR tools promotes shared understanding of patient care. The benefits include reduced mental strain on staff and improved neonatal outcomes through well-coordinated, timely interventions. Interdisciplinary models have been shown to reduce adverse events, shorten hospital stays, and improve staff satisfaction (Sharma & Friede, 2023).

Interdisciplinary Plan Summary

The proposed plan follows the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) model for iterative quality improvement (Chen et al., 2020).

PDSA Step	Description
Plan	Introduce TeamSTEPPS to improve team communication and leadership. Implement SBAR protocols for structured handoffs. Schedule daily team meetings and utilize EHR-integrated secure messaging. Foster a psychologically safe environment for staff input.
Do	Pilot the protocols over two months. Initiate daily interdisciplinary meetings. Train staff on EHR tools and psychological safety practices.
Study	Monitor communication issues, burnout using the MBI tool, and parental satisfaction. Track handoff efficiency and response times pre- and post-implementation.
Act	Refine strategies based on pilot data. Offer additional training, adjust workflows, and institutionalize successful components across the NICU.

Supporting Evidence for the Plan

All strategies are supported by research and industry guidelines. TeamSTEPPS, endorsed by AHRQ, enhances teamwork and safety outcomes (Aurele et al., 2023). SBAR has been proven to improve communication completeness from 62% to 92% (Ghosh et al., 2021). Carletto et al. (2022) and Ravaldi et al. (2023) highlight the need for psychological safety interventions to counteract burnout. Huddles have also been linked to improved team cohesion and planning (Aurele et al., 2023). EHR tools provide real-time coordination, clarity in documentation, and effective task assignment (Vos et al., 2020).

Implementation and Resource Management

Hackensack Meridian Health NICU will integrate daily 15-minute huddles into the current shift schedule without significant cost (Brickson et al., 2024). EPIC tools will be deployed for messaging and coordination, accompanied by staff training. Incorporating TeamSTEPPS and SBAR will equip teams with essential collaboration tools. Leadership must foster psychological safety and monitor staff engagement to avoid inefficiencies and associated financial consequences (Fu et al., 2023).

Resource Area	Management Strategy
Human Resources	Hire permanent nurses or expand float pool to reduce agency staffing.
Technology	Train staff to use EPIC chat and coordination features.
Financial Costs	Estimated investment of \$10,000–\$15,000 for tools and training.
Scheduling	Incorporate huddles into current shifts to avoid extra meeting costs.

Evaluation

The effectiveness of the initiative will be evaluated through specific metrics:

Evaluation Metric	Target Outcome
Handoff Accuracy	Achieve 95% accuracy through audits (Ghosh et al., 2021).
Burnout Rate	Use MBI to reduce staff burnout to <20% (Carletto et al., 2022).
Moral Distress	Assess with Moral Distress Scale-Revised.
PTSS Reduction	Monitor using Impact of Event Scale-Revised (Ravaldi et al., 2023).
Parental Communication Score	Reach ≥80% satisfaction using QOC scale (Guttmann et al., 2024).

Conclusion

This comprehensive proposal addresses key NICU challenges at Hackensack Meridian Health, including fragmented communication, unclear documentation, and workforce strain. Through interventions like TeamSTEPPS, SBAR handoffs, daily huddles, and EHR tools, the plan promotes effective teamwork and psychological well-being. With cost-effective implementation, measurable outcomes, and long-term team involvement, this initiative supports both patient and staff needs. Your active leadership is critical in transforming the NICU into a resilient, high-performing care environment.

Thank you for your dedication to improving NICU care. I welcome any questions or feedback.

References

Aurele, T., Lee, M., & Kim, Y. (2023). Enhancing teamwork and communication in neonatal care: Application of TeamSTEPPS. Journal of Neonatal Nursing, 29(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnn.2023.01.004

Bell, A. J., Morgan, H., & Lewis, K. (2023). Communication failures in the NICU: Effects on outcomes and staffing. Pediatrics and Neonatology, 64(2), 112–119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedneo.2023.01.009

Capella 4005 Assessment 4

Brickson, K., Hall, R., & Jensen, P. (2024). Interdisciplinary huddles: Enhancing coordination without extra costs. Health Care Management Review, 49(1), 38–45.

Carletto, S., Cavallero, C., & Rinaldi, C. (2022). Moral distress and burnout among NICU professionals. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 62, 12–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2022.03.001

Chen, Y., Chan, C., & Xu, Y. (2020). PDSA in clinical practice: Improving quality with small cycles. BMJ Quality & Safety, 29(5), 356–362.

Fu, R., Thompson, J., & Levin, L. (2023). Leadership’s role in sustaining staff psychological safety. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 47(2), 134–142. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000543

Ghosh, S., Patel, R., & Wong, C. (2021). Improving handoff communication with SBAR: A quality improvement study. Journal of Patient Safety, 17(3), 220–225. https://doi.org/10.1097/PTS.0000000000000722

Guttmann, J., Moreira, M., & Silverman, P. (2024). Family experiences and communication lapses in NICU settings. Family Systems & Health, 42(1), 29–37. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000745

Ravaldi, C., Vannacci, A., & Ricca, V. (2023). Post-traumatic stress and burnout among NICU staff: The hidden toll. Journal of Neonatal Psychology, 12(3), 205–215.

Capella 4005 Assessment 4

Sharma, R., & Friede, T. (2023). Interdisciplinary collaboration in neonatal units: Evidence and outcomes. Critical Care Nursing Clinics, 35(1), 85–97.

Vos, J., Reynolds, E., & Turner, A. (2020). EHR messaging and interdisciplinary coordination in intensive care. Journal of Biomedical Informatics, 104, 103395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2020.103395