INTERVIEW AND INTERDISCIPLINARY ISSUE IDENTIFICATION Interview Summary

  Structured interviewing was conducted on December 29, 2020.In this interview, the nurse that I spoke with was able to provide her opinion of the healthcare organizational culture related to collaboration.She worked in an Oncology Department for a large hospital.The organization was invested in continuing education for staff and had an emphasis on patient satisfaction.Her role in the Oncology Department was as an infusion nurse.Within this role she was responsible for patient assessments, medication administration and oversight, and working closely with the interdisciplinary team for psychosocial needs as well as any additional medical needs.In her opinion, continuity of care was lacking, as well as symptom and psychosocial management of patients.The organization had a shared governance committee that met to discuss and address concerns from the nursing staff to leadership. The one issue that she discussed heavily was on symptom management of patients. Many oncology patients were being admitted and readmitted to the hospital through the emergency department for symptom management.Leadership collectively created a symptom management position that was filled by a Nurse Practitioner who would be available to the Oncology Staff and patients.She stated that this position had positive impact on patients because it prevented them unnecessary hospitalizations and to be assessed and treated in the Oncology Department if needed.For example, she stated if a patient had low magnesium, then they would run some magnesium in them before they left.Head and Neck Cancer patients would be treated with fluids and nutrition during visits.The interdisciplinary team that helped to holistically treat the patients included the nurse practitioner, nurses, social workers, dieticians, chaplains, and volunteers