Respecting as a basic teamwork process in the operating theatre – A qualitative study of theatre nurses who work in interdisciplinary surgical teams of what they see as important factors in this collaboration

Abstract

Background: Studies show that working as a team in the operating theatre can be a challenge, and that surgical teams are not so cohesive as might be expected. Methods: A qualitative approach with exploratory design was used, inspired by grounded theory (GT) as a methodology. The data are from semi–structured, open questions, interviews with eight female theatre nurses from four Norwegian operational units. Results: The study shows that the most important factor in the social process between theatre nurses co-operating with other team members, is respecting. This includes interactions where: the attitudes expressed make team members feel valued; team members show an understanding for each other; team members communicate constructively. The leader’s role is to encourage the right attitudes, focusing on respect for one another. Conclusion: The study shows that cooperation is an inter-human process, which requires the presence of multiple factors in the relations between professionals. Organizational factors also play a decisive role in enhancing the quality of inter-disciplinary work. Strengthening teamwork can be a complex task in a multidisciplinary surgical team where conflicting professional identities exist. Here, organisational factors play a crucial role in improving the quality of interdisciplinary collaboration.