Nursing Teamwork Survey Research Articles

The association of rationed nursing care and the level of teamwork in acute care setting: a cross-sectional study

Abstract Aim. To explore the association of rationed nursing care and the level of teamwork from the perspective of nurses working in an acute care setting in Slovakia. Material and methods. The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2022 and February 2023. Data collection was carried out using a set of questionnaires that involved the Basel Extent of Rationing of Nursing Care – Revised (BERNCA-R) and the Nursing Teamwork Survey (NTS) to explore the level of teamwork. The sample consisted of 206 nurses from three district hospitals from Slovakia. Results. The mean score of the BERNCA-R was 2.11 (SD = 0.65) and for NTS, it was 3.64 (SD = 0.35). A statistically significant association was found between rationed nursing care and the level of teamwork, more specifically, Trust (r = -0.583), Team orientation (r = -0.381), Backup (r = -0.657), Shared mental model (r = -0.768), and Team leader (r = -0.535) and the overall score of the NTS (r = -0.174). Conclusions. These findings underscore the importance of addressing the phenomenon of rationed nursing care among registered and practical nurses to foster better teamwork and enhance patient care outcomes in acute care settings.

The level of teamwork and associated factors in the selected hospitals from the nurses' perspective: A cross-sectional study

Background & Aim: Teamwork represents a fundamental prerequisite for providing quality and safe care. This study aimed to determine the level of teamwork and the factors that influence the level of teamwork in selected hospitals in the Slovak Republic.
 Methods & Materials: The descriptive cross-sectional study included 207 nurses from 12 departments of three district hospitals in the Slovak Republic. Data were collected between November 2022 and February 2023 using a questionnaire that evaluated nursing teamwork, the Nursing Teamwork Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
 Results: Nurses evaluated the level of teamwork as (3.74± 0.64), which means ideal less than 75% of the time during the last working shift. The best-rated subscale was the Shared mental model (4.17± 0.49), while the worst-rated subscale was Team orientation (2.47± 0.85). Differences in teamwork level were found based on unit type, education, number of hours worked, number of overtime hours, and perceived staff adequacy (p≤ 0.05). The correlation analysis revealed associations between teamwork and job satisfaction, teamwork satisfaction, subjective quality evaluation, and patient safety, as well as with the number of patients in the last shift, including the number of admitted and discharged patients.
 Conclusion: By regularly determining teamwork levels, it is possible to identify the strengths and weaknesses of nursing teams. Analyzing team weaknesses and implementing targeted measures can lead to strengthening teamwork and improving team functioning.

Multidisciplinary Teamwork Perceptions When Mobilizing Ventilated Neurosurgery Patients.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary teamwork is essential in delivering holistic care to critically ill populations, including ventilated neurosurgery patients. Although it is considered a safe and feasible aspect of patient care, mobilization is often missed in this population because of negative healthcare provider perceptions regarding barriers and patient safety. Nurse-led teamwork has been suggested to overcome these barriers and to achieve earlier mobilization for patients, as well as positive provider perceptions, which may affect the culture and frequency of mobilization on neurointensive care units. Quantitative studies analyzing multidisciplinary teamwork perceptions to mobilize ventilated neurosurgery patients with or without a nurse-led protocol have not been previously conducted. Analyzing such perceptions may provide insight to team-related barriers related to missed mobility. This pilot quasi-experimental study aimed to determine whether the use of a nurse-led mobility protocol affects teamwork perceptions when mobilizing ventilated neurosurgery patients. METHODS: A sample of multidisciplinary teams, composed of nurses, patient care technicians, and respiratory therapists, mobilized ventilated neurosurgery patients according to either standard of care (for the control group) or a nurse-led mobility protocol (for the interventional group). Teamwork perceptions were measured via the reliable and valid Nursing Teamwork Survey tool. RESULTS: Linear mixed model analyses revealed that multidisciplinary teams in the nurse-led mobility protocol group had significantly higher levels of overall perceived teamwork than those in the control group, t3 = -3.296, P = .038. Such differences were also noted for teamwork variables of team leadership and mutual trust. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led mobility protocols should be considered to increase teamwork when performing multidisciplinary teamwork-based mobility for ventilated neurosurgery patients. Future studies should continue to evaluate teamwork perceptions after nurse-led mobility.

Translations and psychometric validation of the Korean version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey.

Enhancing nursing teamwork benefits both patients and nurses. The Nursing Teamwork Survey is a reliable, valid tool to evaluate nursing teamwork. This study was conducted to translate and psychometrically validate the Nursing Teamwork Survey for nurses in Korea. In Phase 1, the Nursing Teamwork Survey was translated into Korean using forward and backward translations. Content and face validity were determined using expert review and pilot testing, respectively. In Phase 2, we evaluated construct and convergent validity and internal consistency, and test-retest reliability. We used survey data from 1119 hospital nursing staff; 98 of whom completed the Korean version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey after 2 weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable fit (χ2 /df ratio = 3.96, root mean square error of approximation = 0.05, standardized root mean square residual = 0.05, comparative fit index = 0.91, and Tucker-Lewis index = 0.90) with good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.76-93) and test-retest reliability (rs = 0.63-0.83). Convergent validity was supported by the correlation between the subscales of the Korean version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey and the Teamwork Within Units subscale of the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (rs = 0.45-0.69, ps < 0.01). These findings indicate that the Korean version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey is a reliable and valid measurement for assessing nursing teamwork. The Korean version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey can inform management strategies to promote nursing teamwork and improve patient safety and nurses' well-being.

The Relationship of Nursing Teamwork and Job Satisfaction in Hospitals.

Teamwork is identified as a key contributor to patient safety and good teamwork is recognized as one of the presumptions of healthy work environment in nursing. The importance of job satisfaction in nursing has repeatedly been confirmed, but only recently has the association of job satisfaction and nursing teamwork been identified. To identify the level of nursing teamwork in hospitals in Iceland and its relationship with job satisfaction. This was a quantitative descriptive cross-sectional study. Data were collected with the Nursing Teamwork Survey administered to nursing staff in medical, surgical, and intensive care units in hospitals in Iceland. This study is based on data from 567 participants. A logistic regression analysis indicated that work experience on current unit and perceived staffing adequacy contributes to job satisfaction and when controlling for unit type, role, experience on current unit and staffing adequacy, those reporting better teamwork are significantly more likely to be satisfied with their current position. With an additional unit for overall nursing teamwork, participants are almost five times likelier to be satisfied with their current position. Study findings show that there is a significant relationship between nursing teamwork and job satisfaction. The findings of this study confirm the importance of adequate staffing and good teamwork for nurses' job satisfaction. Staffing however, will remain the most challenging part of the equation as lack of nursing staff is foreseen globally in the coming decades turning the spotlight to teamwork. All stakeholders, including clinical nurse leaders, administrators, and instructors, need to emphasize on strengthening nursing teamwork. Good teamwork with increased job satisfaction may prevent turnover and shortage of nurses, an issue expected to grow during and following the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilitating good teamwork should be one of the priorities of every nurse leader.

The moderating effect of cultural intelligence between nurses' relationship conflict and teamwork.

To determine if there is a moderating effect of cultural intelligence between the conflict of nursing relationships and teamwork. Relationship conflicts that exist in the nursing teamwork cannot be ignored. It would lead to poor teamwork and impact on patients' poor outcomes. In the meantime, cultural intelligence has been proven that people who have a higher cultural intelligence can do better at the work. The sample included 550 clinic nurses from five different hospitals in Shanghai. The Cultural Intelligence Scale, the Relationship Conflict Scale, and the Nursing Teamwork Survey Scale were used to investigate. Through the Johnson-Neyman method and SPSS Process Macro, the moderating effect of cultural intelligence was analysed. The findings showed that cultural intelligence was founded to be significant (b = 2.03, p < 0.01). When the cultural intelligence score is greater than or equal to 90.8, the relationship conflict between nurses will not affect teamwork. The findings of this study may provide data to improve nurses' performance in team cooperation. Nursing managers should pay attention to the construction of the nurse's cultural intelligence. Nursing managers should guide nurses in daily work to continuously develop their own cultural intelligence. Enable nurses to effectively transfer social skills from one culture to another, and improve teamwork skills.

Occupational fatigue, workload and nursing teamwork in hospital nurses.

To evaluate the relationships between workload, nursing teamwork and nurse fatigue and the moderating effect of nursing teamwork on the relationship between workload and fatigue. This cross-sectional online survey study used data from 810 United States hospital nurses collected between March and April 2021. Workload, nursing teamwork and fatigue were measured using the Quantitative Workload Inventory, the Nursing Teamwork Survey, and the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery scale. Hierarchical multiple linear regression models were used. All the nursing teamwork subscales (i.e. trust, team orientation, backup, shared mental model, team leadership) were significantly negatively related to acute and chronic fatigue. Nursing teamwork components of team orientation, shared mental model and team leadership moderated the relationship between workload and chronic fatigue. The relationships between workload and chronic fatigue were stronger when these components of nursing teamwork were high. No moderating effects were found with acute fatigue. Efforts to increase nursing teamwork may be a promising strategy in managing nurse fatigue. It is equally important to monitor and modify high workload to protect nurses from elevated fatigue. WHAT PROBLEM DID THE STUDY ADDRESS?: Fatigue is negatively associated with the health and safety of hospital nurses and patients. Nursing teamwork has been shown to improve the nursing care of hospitalized patients; yet, it is rarely explored in relation to nurse fatigue. WHAT WERE THE MAIN FINDINGS?: Greater nursing teamwork is significantly associated with lower acute and chronic fatigue. The relationships between workload and chronic fatigue were stronger when nursing teamwork (i.e. team orientation, shared mental model and team leadership) was high than when nursing teamwork was low. WHERE AND ON WHOM WILL THE RESEARCH HAVE AN IMPACT?: Improving nursing teamwork, in addition to monitoring and modifying workloads, can be a promising approach for managing fatigue in healthcare organizations.

Perceptions of Teamwork Among Blood and Marrow Transplant and Immune Cell Therapy Nursing Staff at a Cancer Center: A Multimethod Study

This multimethod study investigated nursing staff’s perception of teamwork within blood and marrow transplant and immune cell therapy units. Higher teamwork scores (Nursing Teamwork Survey) were related to higher job satisfaction and teamwork satisfaction. Perceptions of adequate staffing corresponded with higher teamwork scores. Higher levels of education were related to Team Leadership and Backup subscales. Thematic analysis identified themes for presence (cohesiveness, helping without asking, shared goal of patient care) and absence of teamwork (not helping one another, negative impact on patient care, chaos, tension). Three themes emerged for improving teamwork: take initiative to help, communication, treat one another positively.

The relationship between post-resuscitation debriefings and perceptions of teamwork in emergency department nurses

BackgroundEmergency department nurses are faced with traumatic patient events while functioning as members of multidisciplinary teams. Postresuscitation debriefings have been shown to benefit health care professionals and patient clinical outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the use of post resuscitation debriefings and perceptions of teamwork in emergency department nurses. The study also addressed the type and timing of debriefing to determine whether these factors are associated with perceptions of teamwork. MethodsA nationwide survey was disseminated to emergency department nurses throughout the United States. The design aimed to compare the results from the Nursing Teamwork Survey with the data regarding frequency, type, and timing of debriefings. An ANOVA and Scheffe post hoc was done as well. ResultsThe 68 responses which were included in the data were from 27 different states. Results showed that when debriefings were done more frequently (η = .41, p = .02), were conducted using a formal debriefing method (η = .36, p = .01), and were held immediately after a situation (η = .36, p = .03), there was a significant positive relationship (eta coefficient) with higher levels of trust, team orientation, backup, shared mental model, and leadership. ConclusionFindings may be used to increase utilization of debriefings and improve perceptions of teamwork among emergency department nurses.

Examining the average scores of nursing teamwork subscales in an acute private medical ward

BackgroundHealthcare is delivered by multidisciplinary healthcare teams who rely on communication and effective teamwork to ensure safe patient care. Teamwork builds on employee cohesion and reduces medical and nursing errors, resulting in greater patient satisfaction and improved healthcare. Effective teamwork not only improves efficiency and patient safety but leads to a healthier and happier workplace, reducing burnout among healthcare professionals. The purpose of this paper is to describe the findings of a pilot project on an acute medical ward in Western Australia. The aim was to understand the participants perceived level of teamwork to support future work practices and ultimately patient care.MethodsThis study used a descriptive survey research method to measure nursing teamwork in a clinical environment. The Nursing Teamwork Survey (NTS) measures the levels of nursing teamwork in acute healthcare facilities. Items for the NTS were generated on theoretical grounds, based on teamwork behaviours, offering a practical explanation of teamwork dynamics.ResultsThe survey incorporated five subscales. The response rate to the survey was 90 % (n = 45) with an overall average result on the survey being (m = 2.97) on a 0–4 Likert scale. The validated NTS has provided participants the opportunity to consider nursing teamwork with regards to their position and perceived responsibilities towards patients and team members.ConclusionThe findings highlight areas for consolidation and improvement in teamwork. Introducing teambuilding strategies and acting on results of this survey may support enhanced communication and teamwork influencing nursing care and patient outcomes. Findings recommend that activities to improve teamwork and ensuring teambuilding strategies are implemented to improve effective communication in an acute medical care setting would have significant impacts on staff satisfaction.

The relationship between missed nursing care and teamwork in emergency nurses: A predictive correlational study

Background &amp; Aim: Missed nursing care can reduce nursing care quality by eliminating or delaying any aspect of the patient’s necessary nursing care. Teamwork has been a solution to improve the quality of care and safety of patients. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between missed nursing care and emergency nurses’ teamwork in the educational-medical centers affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences in 2019. Methods &amp; Materials: This cross-sectional study is predictive correlational in nature. It was conducted on 213 nurses working in the emergency department who were selected based on the census method from March 2018 to December 2019. The self-report data were collected using Nursing Teamwork Survey and Missed Nursing Care questionnaires. The data were analyzed through conducting ANOVA, t-test, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS version 16. Results: The mean score of missed nursing care in the emergency nurses was 2.25±0.65, and the nurses’ average teamwork was 3.53±0.55. There was a statistically significant yet inverse correlation between teamwork and missed nursing care (p&lt;0.001) (r= -0.29). The determination coefficient of the multiple linear regression modeling was used to predict the missed nursing care based on the total teamwork score indicated that 14% of the missed nursing care was explained under the influence of independent variables. Conclusion: Due to the inverse relationship between teamwork and missed nursing care, it is necessary to design and plan training courses to further enhance the nurses’ ability to perform teamwork and collaborative work.

The Turkish version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey: A validity and reliability study.

This study aimed to test the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Nursing Teamwork Survey, which was developed to measure the concept of nursing teamwork. Performed as a methodological study with a cross-sectional design, the study included 486 bedside nurses in three different types of hospitals in Istanbul. The data were collected using the Nursing Teamwork Survey between October and December 2018. The scale includes five subscales and 33 items. The data were analysed using SPSS 22.0 and LISREL 8.7. Nurses' mean age was 29.82 (SD = 7.33). The content validity index of the scale was 0.94. Confirmatory factor analysis conducted on the original form showed that all items fell within the subscales of the original scale and that their factor loads were between 0.48 and 0.91. Following factor analysis, the factor structure of the original scale was valid; however, suggested modifications were applied to improve the results. The obtained goodness-of-fit indices were close to the excellent range according to literature. Cronbach's alpha was 0.95 for the scale. The scale is a valid and reliable tool for measuring teamwork among nurses.

Nursing teamwork in general ward settings: A mixed-methods exploratory study among enrolled and registered nurses.

To examine the perceived level of nursing teamwork and factors influencing teamwork among enrolled nurses (ENs) and registered nurses (RNs) in general ward settings. The nursing care delivery model includes RNs, ENs and others who work as a team to deliver patient care. The potential impact of teamwork on nursing care highlights the need to explore the work of nursing teams. A mixed-methods exploratory study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently from ENs and RNs in 2018. Two hundred and forty-eight (n=248) nurses completed the Nursing Teamwork Survey. Sixteen nurses participated in focus group discussions. Qualitative data were reported following COREQ guidelines, while quantitative data followed the STROBE guidelines. Both ENs and RNs scored highest for the shared mental model subscale but lowest for the team orientation subscale. Factors including qualification level, years of working experience, perceived job staffing adequacy and job satisfaction were found to influence teamwork. Three themes emerged from the qualitative findings: expectations of each other's role, delegation practices and interpersonal relationships. ENs and RNs differed in their expectations of their role in basic patient care activities and faced power struggles related to delegation practices. Open and structured communication was deemed essential in building interpersonal relationships. The ENs and RNs have clear understanding of their personal roles and responsibilities towards achieving a common goal. However, teamwork may be improved with a shared mental model in performing basic nursing care tasks, mutual support for workload management, better delegation practices, effective communication, enhanced interpersonal relationships and better team orientation. Nurse managers and educators need to work collaboratively to foster positive delegation practices in clinical practice supported by applicable team training that enhances mutual trust, backup behaviours and collective orientation in nursing teams.

Nursing teamwork in the care of older people: A mixed methods study

Healthcare is increasingly complex and requires the ability to adapt to changing demands. Teamwork is essential to delivering high quality care and is central to nursing. The aims of this study were to identify the processes that underpin nursing teamwork and how these affect the care of older people, identify the relationship between perceived teamwork and perceived quality of care, and explore in depth the experience of working in nursing teams. The study was carried out in three older people's wards in a London teaching hospital. Nurses and healthcare assistants completed questionnaires (n = 65) on known dynamics of teamwork (using the Nursing Teamwork Survey) together with ratings of organisational quality (using an adapted AHRQ HSPS scale). A sample (n = 22; 34%) was then interviewed about their perceptions of care, teamwork and how good outcomes are delivered in everyday work. Results showed that many care difficulties were routinely encountered, and confirmed the importance of teamwork (e.g. shared mental models of tasks and team roles and responsibilities, supported by leadership) in adapting to challenges. Perceived quality of teamwork was positively related to perceived quality of care. Work system variability and the external environment influenced teamwork, and confirmed the importance of team adaptive capacity. The CARE model shows the centrality of teamwork in adapting to variable demand and capacity to deliver care processes, and the influence of broader system factors on teamworking.

Nursing teamwork in a health system: A multisite study.

The aim of this study was to examine how the facets of teamwork exist among nurse-only teams in acute and continuing care settings. The health care 'team' conventionally describes the interdisciplinary team in both literature and practice. Nursing-specific teams are rarely considered in the literature. An examination of this specific professional cohort is important to understand how teamwork exists among those who provide the majority of patient care. This was a descriptive, comparative, cross-sectional study using the Nursing Teamwork Survey to measure teamwork of nursing-based teams among 1414 participants in multiple acute care environments across a large Midwestern health system. The characteristics of nursing teams were analysed. The results from the subscales within the teamwork model showed that nursing teams had a good understanding of the various roles and responsibilities. However, nurse team members held a more individualistic rather than collective team-oriented mindset. Increased teamwork has a positive effect on job satisfaction, staffing efficiencies, retention and care delivery. Nurse leaders can use the information provided in this study to target the aspects of highly functioning teams by improving team orientation, trust and backup behaviours.

The psychometric testing of the Nursing Teamwork Survey in Iceland.

The purpose of this study was to test the psychometric properties of the Nursing Teamwork Survey-Icelandic (NTS-Icelandic), which was translated from US English to Icelandic. The Nursing Teamwork Survey, with 33 items, measures overall teamwork and five factors of teamwork: trust, team orientation, backup, shared mental models, and team leadership. The psychometric testing of the NTS-Icelandic was carried out on data from a pilot study and a national study. The sample for a pilot study included 123 nursing staff from five units, and the sample for a national study included 925 nursing staff from 27 inpatient units. The overall test-retest intraclass correlation coefficient in the pilot study was 0.693 (lower bound = 0.498, upper bound = 0.821) (p < 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha reliability for the total scale and subscales ranged from 0.737 to 0.911. A confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit of the data from the national study with the five-factor model for nursing teamwork. The NTS-Icelandic tested valid and reliable in this study. Study findings support further use of the Nursing Teamwork Survey internationally.

Teamwork and Patient Care Teams in an Acute Care Hospital.

The literature suggests that effective teamwork among patient care teams can positively impact work environment, job satisfaction and quality of patient care. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived level of nursing teamwork by registered nurses, registered practical nurses, personal support workers and unit clerks working on patient care teams in one acute care hospital in northern Ontario, Canada, and to determine if a relationship exists between the staff scores on the Nursing Teamwork Survey (NTS) and participant perception of adequate staffing. Using a descriptive cross-sectional research design, 600 staff members were invited to complete the NTS and a 33% response rate was achieved (N=200). The participants from the critical care unit reported the highest scores on the NTS, whereas participants from the inpatient surgical (IPS) unit reported the lowest scores. Participants from the IPS unit also reported having less experience, being younger, having less satisfaction in their current position and having a higher intention to leave. A high rate of intention to leave in the next year was found among all participants. No statistically significant correlation was found between overall scores on the NTS and the perception of adequate staffing. Strategies to increase teamwork, such as staff education, among patient care teams may positively influence job satisfaction and patient care on patient care units.

Measuring the influence of a mutual support educational intervention within a nursing team

BackgroundTeamwork is essential to provide the highest quality of care for patients. Feeling supported within a nursing unit is a significant factor in nursing satisfaction, intention to remain in the job, and the capacity to provide safe patient care by Aiken et al [1]. PurposeThis study examined mutual support among a nursing team to measure the influence of an educational intervention focusing on Mutual Support from the Team STEPPS curriculum by Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AHRQ [2]. MethodsThe study design used a Likert scale survey, the Nursing Teamwork Survey, before and following an education intervention adapted from the Team STEPPS curriculum on Mutual Support. Demographic data from the 41 participants were analyzed for impact on educational background, roles and responsibilities, age, and other factors. ResultsPre- Post education intervention results varied among the survey items, although scores demonstrated heightened awareness of teamwork following the educational intervention. The subscale of Backup illustrated the strongest improvement. ConclusionThe study demonstrates that education can have an impact on perceptions and awareness of mutual support among nursing team members. The survey instrument can be used effectively to inform leadership areas for improvement and staff development in the effort to improve team coordination and mutual support.

Train-the-Trainer Intervention to Increase Nursing Teamwork and Decrease Missed Nursing Care in Acute Care Patient Units

Teamwork is essential for patient safety and results in less missed nursing care. The aim of this study was to test the impact of a train-the-trainer intervention on the level of satisfaction with nursing teamwork and the amount of missed nursing care. This study used a quasiexperimental design with repeated measures taken at pretest, posttest, and 2 months after completion of the intervention. The sample for this study was the nursing staff on three medical-surgical units in three separate acute care hospitals (one unit in each hospital). Three nurses from each unit underwent a training program and then taught the skills and knowledge they acquired to the staff members on their units in three-hour-long sessions. The training involved staff role-playing scenarios based on teamwork problems that occur regularly on inpatient units in acute care hospitals followed by debriefing, which focused on teamwork behaviors (e.g., leadership, team orientation, backup, performance monitoring) and missed nursing care. Four measures were used to test the efficacy of this intervention: The Nursing Teamwork Survey, the MISSCARE Survey, and questions about the knowledge of and satisfaction with teamwork. Return rates for the surveys ranged from 73% to 84%. Follow-up tests individually comparing pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest were conducted within the mixed model and used the Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Teamwork increased (F = 6.91, df = 259.01, p = .001) and missed care decreased (F = 3.59, df = 251.29, p = .03) over time. Nursing staff also reported a higher level of satisfaction with teamwork and an increase of teamwork knowledge after the intervention. The intervention tested in this study shows promise of being an effective and efficient approach to increase nursing teamwork and decrease missed nursing care.

Nursing teamwork and time to respond to call lights: an exploratory study

AIM: The aim of this exploratory study was to determine whether the level of nursing teamwork is correlated to call light answering time in acute care hospital patient care units. Background: Teamwork has been shown to improve productivity. In this study, we examine the relationship between unit call light response time as a measure of productivity and the level of teamwork on the unit. METHOD: The Nursing Teamwork Survey was administered to nursing staff on 18 inpatient units in 3 hospitals. In addition to the overall teamwork score, the NTS has 5 subscales. Call light response times were collected from electronic systems which measures the time it takes for nursing staff on a given unit to respond to patient call lights. RESULTS: There was no significant relationship between call light response time and teamwork overall or on the five subscales. Shared mental models, which comprise the conceptual understanding of the roles and responsibilities of each team member, however was moderately correlated with call-light answering times. CONCLUSIONS: It is logical that shared mental models would be associated with call light response time since a common problem in patient units is the "it's not my job syndrome" where nursing staff do not answer call lights for patients assigned to someone else. More research with a larger number of patient units is needed to validate these findings.