Overview
When an interprofessional (IP) student team first comes together, there are several recommended activities:
- Each individual team member should complete the Saint Louis University TeamSTEPPS modules
- Each IP student team should review (as a team) the Tips for IP Student Team Members
- Each IP student team should complete the two-hour TeamSTEPPS Group Activity
Tips for IP Student Team Members
- When an IP team of students is coming together for the first time, consider
- Scheduling time to get to know team members
- Developing a “things you should know about me” profile sheet
- Initiating team activities about things you have in common (e.g. children, music, food) and celebrate diversity
- Organizing regular interprofessional social activities
- Shadowing team members to get a better understanding of their roles and responsibilities
- Agreeing upon a strategy to deal with concerns before they escalate
- Discussing your scopes of practice
- Organizing regular team meetings to reflect on team dynamics and collaborative practice — including having open and democratic discussions with colleagues regarding team functioning
- Appropriate leadership roles
- Developing or deciding on tools for communicating information about patients (e.g. TeamSTEPPS SBAR and I PASS THE BATON)
- Developing a team agreement that outlines roles and expectations
- Developing a team contract to document and assist your team on how it plans to meet the IP competencies
- Try to always
- Participate in team meetings
- Solicit alternative perspectives or points of view, and be tactful when presenting an alternative perspective
- Recognize a team member’s accomplishments, such as when the person went beyond the call of duty or demonstrated exemplary teamwork
- Not interrupt when others are speaking
- Focus on what others are saying
- Ask for clarification when you do not understand
- Be sensitive to others' personal situations
- Use the "24 hour rule" before reacting when upset
- Give credit when credit is due
- Demonstrate respect by actively listening to ideas and concerns of others, and considering others’ suggestions
TeamSTEPPS Group Activity
Although this can be a helpful exercise for any IP team of students, if such a team will be together for two or more weeks, it is recommended they view the following videos and discuss the accompanying questions as a team at or near the beginning of their time. Each video with a team discussion should take an average of 8 minutes.
Leadership
Communication
Cross Monitoring and Situation Monitoring
Mutual Support