Because teams play an increasingly important role in
the current health care system (Poole & Real, 2003), a
vital aspect of proposed nursing environment improvements
centers on enhancing the team-based structures
in which many nurses practice (Ritter-Teitel, 2002).
The increase in health care teams has made professional
nursing practice even more salient, requiring nurses to
serve as links between team members and as liaisons
between the team and other constituencies (e.