A nurse is assisting with teaching a class about categories of nurse sensitive quality indicators. The nurse should instruct the class that which of the following is included in the outcome category?

The correct answer is b. Misunderstanding of roles.

Choice A: Scope of practice

Reason: While the scope of practice defines the roles and responsibilities of different healthcare professionals, it is not inherently a barrier to interprofessional communication. Instead, it provides clarity on what each professional can and cannot do, which can actually facilitate better teamwork and communication.

Choice B: Misunderstanding of roles

Reason: Misunderstanding of roles is a significant barrier to interprofessional communication. When team members are unclear about each other’s roles and responsibilities, it can lead to confusion, overlap, and gaps in care. This misunderstanding can hinder effective collaboration and communication, as team members may not know who to turn to for specific issues or may duplicate efforts.

Choice C: Privacy laws

Reason: Privacy laws, such as HIPAA in the United States, are designed to protect patient information. While they impose certain restrictions on information sharing, they are not a primary barrier to interprofessional communication. Healthcare teams can still communicate effectively within the boundaries of these laws by ensuring that patient information is shared appropriately and securely.

Choice D: Burnout

Reason: Burnout is a significant issue in healthcare, affecting the well-being and performance of healthcare professionals. However, it is more of a personal and systemic issue rather than a direct barrier to interprofessional communication. Burnout can indirectly affect communication by reducing the overall effectiveness and engagement of team members.

Choice A reason: Evidence based practice is the process that the nurse is planning to use. Evidence based practice is the integration of the best available evidence from research, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to make decisions and provide quality care for the client.
Choice B reason: Standardization is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Standardization is the process of establishing and implementing uniform criteria, methods, or procedures for a specific activity or task. Standardization can help improve efficiency, consistency, and safety, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.
Choice C reason: Benchmarking is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Benchmarking is the process of comparing the performance, outcomes, or practices of one's own organization or unit with those of other organizations or units that are recognized as leaders or exemplars in the same field. Benchmarking can help identify gaps, strengths, and areas for improvement, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.
Choice D reason: Root cause analysis is not the process that the nurse is planning to use. Root cause analysis is the process of identifying and analyzing the underlying factors or causes that contribute to an adverse event or error. Root cause analysis can help prevent recurrence, enhance safety, and promote learning, but it does not necessarily involve research or scientific data.