As our profession continues to grow, embracing a community of practice approach is the key to learning new skills and evidence-based practice (EBP) interventions to enhance the care we provide to our patient populations. Communities of practice are groups of healthcare team members who engage in shared learning about a specific clinical skill set or quality improvement topic, such as how to make our work environments more efficient, resolve process barriers, and improve workplace safety and satisfaction. When clinical expertise is shared, it cultivates a cohesive team and promotes respect among team members while meeting an educational need.
Communities of practice can evolve naturally because we all share a common interest in improving our clinical work area and the health and wellness of our patients, their families, and our community. A community of practice may be developed to resolve knowledge deficits or improve care delivery when concerns are identified. Leadership teams can utilize this approach to share new ideas that result in better workflow and increased nurse satisfaction and nursing retention rates. Even supportive healthcare team members, such as organizational security teams, can provide education on how to keep the workplace safe during potentially dangerous situations.
A community of practice may also include nurses in specialty areas. For example, labor and delivery nurses can coach their emergency nurse colleagues on EBP interventions to prepare for imminent high-risk obstetric deliveries. Or wound care nurses can educate medical-surgical nurses about EBP interventions to reduce hospital-acquired pressure ulcers. In addition, ancillary team members, such as respiratory therapists, physical therapists, social workers, and pharmacists, may be included. Each of these multidisciplinary team members possesses an expertise that when shared can dramatically impact patient outcomes by reducing hospital-acquired complications and overall mortality. For example, a respiratory therapist can train clinical nurses on EBP interventions for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention.
Team members within a community of practice have respect for each other's clinical skill set. Encouraging this approach within our organizations enriches the knowledge of our peers, sharpens patient care, and fosters a more cohesive work group. It's also directly linked to other organizational benefits, such as increased productivity, a reduced learning curve for new employees, and more satisfied team members who are acknowledged for their EBP-driven clinical expertise.
As nurses, we all have special skills; when you impart these skills to your colleagues, you gain a finer understanding of how your professional practice is interconnected with other clinical areas within your organization. I challenge you to become an active member of a community of practice-get started sharing your insight with others!