RNs are talented professionals and their role on a healthcare team is irreplaceable. On their own, they’re intelligent, compassionate and reliable. But these abilities are amplified when they band together and work as a team. Healthcare, by definition, is a multidisciplinary profession in which doctors, nurses, health professionals from different specialties must work together, communicate often, and share resources. Teamwork is centered on solid communication which puts patients and their families at ease since the healthcare team share one common goal: the patient's wellbeing.

TeamSTEPPS is a teamwork system developed jointly by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to improve institutional collaboration and communication relating to patient safety. This course emphasized the importance of teamwork, communication, and improves patient outcomes.

Effective teamwork and communication are critical parts of the design of safe systems. This course focused on what makes an effective team through case studies, analyzed the effects of individual behavior for promoting teamwork, communication, and a culture safety. This course also demonstrated several essential communication tools, such as briefings, SBAR, and critical language.