Team projects can always be a challenge, but at the same time they can turn out to be very rewarding. Working in large groups poses a challenge because that’s a lot of people to correlate schedules with, communicate with, and each person has their own brilliant ideas. That’s where the rewarding factor comes in; each team member has so much to offer to the team. I anticipate this team dissemination project, from topic proposal to dissemination of the final project will be accomplished with constant communication, great teamwork, and staying on track. The easiest way for all of us to communicate outside of class or clinical is by group text message. A group chat allows us to bounce ideas off each other, strategize our plan for breaking up tasks, and communicating on what needs to be done. The group chat will be a great communication plan to keep us all accountable.

Sometimes it’s hard for big groups to work together because not everyone will agree on the same things. When and if conflict arises then it will be important to just communicate what we are feeling and what we are seeing to the group member who is not doing their part. I would start off by asking if the team member is doing okay and ask them why they haven’t completed their part of the work or done it to the level it needs to be. Next, I would address if they had a lot going on and figure out how the group could help them and allow all of us together be successful.

There may be some barriers to overcome or some benefits to help us push forward.  I anticipate that covid may be a barrier to our team if one member were to get sick. Each week in the clinical setting one of us cannot go due to the six-member limit on our covid floor. I believe that limitation on our team is a barrier, because that one member each week is missing out on conversations and teamwork in the clinical setting. Another barrier, as I mentioned before, not everyone will agree on the same thing or be on good terms. Group work can be great but also be a lot of work. A benefit to working in a team though is if one member needs help there are many others there to step in. Communication will help overcome barriers. Team communication, working well together, and stepping in if one member needs it are all useful skills to bring into my future nursing practice. I’ve heard it before that nursing is a team effort and group projects are how we build that skill to bring to our future practice.