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Groupthink in Nursing: Case Study Insights

The document discusses a recent experience of groupthink during a rapid response situation for a post-operative patient, highlighting the challenges faced by a new nurse in making decisions against the group's consensus. It emphasizes the importance of open communication and presenting evidence to prevent groupthink, as well as the need for leaders to recognize and address diffusion of responsibility within teams. The author reflects on the significance of challenging group conformity to improve patient outcomes and enhance team dynamics.

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Emily Ann
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20 views2 pages

Groupthink in Nursing: Case Study Insights

The document discusses a recent experience of groupthink during a rapid response situation for a post-operative patient, highlighting the challenges faced by a new nurse in making decisions against the group's consensus. It emphasizes the importance of open communication and presenting evidence to prevent groupthink, as well as the need for leaders to recognize and address diffusion of responsibility within teams. The author reflects on the significance of challenging group conformity to improve patient outcomes and enhance team dynamics.

Uploaded by

Emily Ann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Module 3: Journal Discussion – Problem Solving

McNay

Initial Post

A recent situation where I experienced groupthink occurred following a rapid response on a post-

operative patient who was experiencing persistent hypotension with significant swelling at the

surgical site. The patient had recently been transferred to the floor unit following 24 hours in

PACU for close monitoring after a hip disarticulation. Following the first rapid response, the

group was trying to decide if the patient should be kept on the floor unit or transferred to a higher

level of care, the ICU. The patient’s BP improved following 1L bolus with all other VS within

normal limits. The resident ordered one unit of PRBC to be transfused for low hemoglobin

levels. The rapid response team felt the patient was stable enough to remain on the floor unit

while myself and the charge nurse considered the patient to be transferred to a higher level of

care. Ultimately the patient stayed on the unit. An hour later rapid response and the resident had

to be paged for the patient deteriorating status and the patient was finally transferred to the ICU.

Factors I feel that led to groupthink was inexperience and the need to make decisions during a

stressful situation. As a new nurse it can be difficult to make decisions that go against the group

leader decisions and are contrary to what more experienced nurses decide. Since the rapid

response nurses felt the patient was stable to remain on the floor, the group cohesively agreed to

the same decision. To prevent groupthink in a future situation I can present a better history of the

patient and provide my reasons with evidence. Open communication or providing my reasons to

a trusted team member or charge nurse could have opened more dialogue about the patient’s plan

of care.
This module provided insight to team dysfunction and how the characteristics of trust, fear of

conflict, and accountability are important factors. It also was encouraging to watch nurse

innovators in action and how they use problem-solving to improve patient outcomes outside of

the outside and following their discharge. An important lesson is to pursue your curiosity to

discover ways to make systems better.

Response Post – Part I

In the article by Christensen (2019) diffusion of responsibility, a sociopsychology phenomenon,

is explored and implications for leaders to recognize factors that lead to the diffusion of

responsibility. Christensen (2019) also discusses how diffusion of responsibility occurs in

groups. One reason this occurs is the result of groupthink. Groupthink feeds into the concept of

diffusion of responsibility as members feel less accountability because the group made the

decision. An interesting trait to identify groupthink is cohesiveness. It’s important for a leader in

a group to identify members who are going along with all decisions. As a leader, it can be helpful

to shift responsibilities onto other members and remain impartial to potential solutions to

encourage more discussion.

Implication to my everyday nursing responsibilities is to value times where ideas and opinions

may go against the conformity of the group and be more open to challenging a groups idea.

Reference

Christensen S. S. (2019). Escape from the diffusion of responsibility: A review and guide for
nurses. Journal of nursing management, 27(2), 264–270.
[Link]

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