Page 3 - Guide to PICU

Working as a Team

We have changed the skill mix in PICU so there are three regulated health care providers.
Those who work in PICU need to be part of a high functioning, cohesive team. You are
assigned certain patients to be accountable for but no one in PICU should be saying that is
“not my patient” or “that’s not my job”. There are three nurses working with six patients and it

often takes a group effort to maintain a therapeutic milieu. To contribute to a high-functioning
team you must be willing to:

 Communicate regularly with your colleagues

 Help each other
 Offer suggestions and be willing to answer questions

 Be out on the floor regularly to know what is happening in the milieu

Anyone who wants to operate individually, and not work as part of a team, should not be
working in PICU. RNs and RPNs need to work together so that everyone stays safe and has a

good day at work.

Characteristics of high functioning teams include:

 People who trust each other and trust the team’s goals. They feel free to express
themselves and their ideas.

 Members are clear on how to work together and how to accomplish tasks.

 Everyone understands both team and individual performance goals and knows what is
expected.

 Team members actively diffuse tension and friction in a relaxed and informal
atmosphere.

 The team engages in discussions, and everyone gets a chance to contribute.
 Disagreement is viewed as a good thing and conflicts are managed. Criticism is

constructive and is oriented toward problem solving and removing obstacles.
 Each team member carries their own weight and respects the team processes and other
members.

 Team members look out for each other and stay nearby when a colleague is trying to

deescalate someone.
 No individual members are more important than the team.

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