CNL Interprofessional Collaboration & Communication 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which communication tool is most commonly used to improve handoff communication between healthcare providers?
- PDSA cycle
- Root cause analysis
- SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) (Correct answer)
- FMEA
Correct answer: SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation)
SBAR is the standardized communication format used for handoffs and reporting critical patient information to other providers.
Question 2: The CNL's role in interprofessional teams is best described as:
- Supervisor of all team members
- Lateral integrator of care across the healthcare team (Correct answer)
- Primary decision-maker for all patient care
- Administrative coordinator for hospital operations
Correct answer: Lateral integrator of care across the healthcare team
The CNL serves as a lateral integrator, coordinating care across disciplines without hierarchical authority over other professionals.
Question 3: TeamSTEPPS was developed by which organization(s)?
- The Joint Commission
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement
- American Nurses Association
- AHRQ and the Department of Defense (Correct answer)
Correct answer: AHRQ and the Department of Defense
TeamSTEPPS was co-developed by AHRQ and the Department of Defense as an evidence-based teamwork system to improve patient safety.
Question 4: In TeamSTEPPS, the 'huddle' is designed to:
- Conduct staff performance reviews
- Replace the formal shift report
- Provide ongoing assessment and re-establish situational awareness during a rapidly changing event (Correct answer)
- Address staffing shortages at the unit level
Correct answer: Provide ongoing assessment and re-establish situational awareness during a rapidly changing event
Huddles in TeamSTEPPS are brief, ad hoc meetings used to re-establish situational awareness during rapidly changing patient care situations.
Question 5: Which barrier most commonly impedes effective interprofessional collaboration in healthcare settings?
- Shared electronic documentation systems
- Standardized clinical protocols
- Having too many team members on a unit
- Hierarchical culture and professional status differences (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Hierarchical culture and professional status differences
Hierarchical culture and professional status differences are among the most significant barriers to open communication and collaboration in healthcare teams.
Question 6: The 'I PASS the BATON' communication tool is specifically used for:
- Medication reconciliation at admission
- Incident reporting after an adverse event
- Structured patient handoff and care transfer (Correct answer)
- Quality improvement project planning
Correct answer: Structured patient handoff and care transfer
'I PASS the BATON' is a structured handoff mnemonic ensuring safe transfer of patient care responsibility by covering Introduction, Patient, Assessment, Situation, Safety, Background, Actions, Timing, Ownership, and Next.
Question 7: When a conflict arises between a CNL and a physician regarding a patient care decision, the most appropriate first step is:
- Escalate immediately to nursing administration
- Request a different physician be assigned to the patient
- Document the disagreement and proceed with the physician's order
- Use assertive communication techniques to directly express concerns (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Use assertive communication techniques to directly express concerns
Assertive communication allows the CNL to advocate for the patient while maintaining a professional relationship, and should be attempted before any formal escalation.
CNL Interprofessional Collaboration & Communication 1
Which communication tool is most commonly used to improve handoff communication between healthcare providers?