Numerous studies have concluded that work group
teamwork leads to higher staff job satisfaction,
increased patient safety, improved quality of care,
and greater patient satisfaction. Although there
have been studies on the impact of multidisciplinary
teamwork in healthcare, the teamwork among
nursing staff on a patient care unit has received
very little attention from researchers. In this study,
an intervention to enhance teamwork and staff engagement
was tested on a medical unit in an acute
care hospital. The results showed that the intervention
resulted in a significantly lower patient fall
rate, staff ratings of improved teamwork on the
unit, and lower staff turnover and vacancy rates.
Patient satisfaction ratings approached, but did
not reach, statistical significance.