Orientation for Interprofessional Student Teams

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

Team Structure

​​Overview of Basic TeamSTEPPS tools