Improving Effective Interdisciplinary Communication in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

Background: A level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) had been dealing with communication issues that appeared to decrease job satisfaction and loss of experienced staff members to other institutions. Poor communication skills decrease job satisfaction, increase employee turnover, and decrease the quality of patient care.1 Multiple studies have demonstrated that communication training improves communication, conflict management, and overall job satisfaction.2,3 Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve effective communication, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, and job satisfaction within the interdisciplinary team in the NICU using a communication intervention. Methods: A pretest/posttest design measured the variables of communication, conflict management, teamwork, leadership, and overall job satisfaction before and after a communication intervention. Results: A communication improvement initiative does significantly increase effective communication (P = .009) (P = .029) and conflict management (P = 0.31). Implications for Practice: These findings support the use of communication improvement projects to not only improve communication of interdisciplinary teams but also for conflict management. Implications for Research: Future studies should include the use of councils and shared governance within the framework of the Diffusion of Innovation Theory. The role of councils and their dynamics within this theory were efficient and beneficial to the outcomes of this project.