Which of the following statements is not appropriate for a team?

UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022 (Shift-2)

Nursing Management & leadership

Easy

Appeared in: UP NHM CHO 7 Sept 2022 (Shift-2)

Explanation

A team is defined by a group of individuals working together to achieve a common goal, as stated in management principles.
The statement 'Teams work for individual goals' directly contradicts the core definition of a team, which emphasizes shared objectives and collaboration.
Prioritizing individual goals over team goals can lead to conflict, reduced productivity, and failure to achieve the collective mission.

Option A: This is a characteristic of a high-performing team. Allowing members the freedom to use their unique skills and talents maximizes the team's overall capability and effectiveness.
Option C: This is a foundational element of a healthy team. Mutual respect fosters trust, open communication, and a positive working environment, which are essential for collaboration.
Option D: This is a key principle of organization and team management. Assigning specific tasks (division of work) ensures clarity, accountability, and efficient progress towards the common goal.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Principles of Effective Teamwork as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
In healthcare, effective teamwork is critical for patient safety. A surgical team, a code blue team, or a nursing unit must work towards the common goal of patient well-being, not individual tasks.
A breakdown in teamwork, where a member prioritizes their own agenda (e.g., finishing paperwork) over an urgent patient need, can lead to serious adverse events and medical errors.
What if? - If a nurse on a ward prioritizes completing their documentation (an individual task) over helping another nurse with a patient who is rapidly deteriorating, this focus on an individual goal over the team's goal (patient safety) can lead to a preventable negative outcome. This highlights the critical importance of shared objectives in clinical settings.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative framing of the question. You are looking for the option that does NOT fit with the concept of a team.
Next, recall the fundamental definition of a 'team'. The core idea is a group of people working together to achieve a common goal.
Evaluate each option against this core definition.
The option 'Freedom to use one's skills' supports teamwork.
The option 'Respect each other's work' supports teamwork.
The option 'Specific tasks' supports teamwork through organization.

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Principles of Effective Teamwork
Stem keywords: team, appropriate, statements
Lead-in keywords: not
Negative lead-in flag: The question asks for the statement that is NOT appropriate, meaning three options are features of a functional team and one is not.

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E6 Nursing_Management_and_leadership_Johny_Kutty_JosephCbs_Publishers (pp 16-364 of 374) pp. 202-204, 142-144

E6 Textbook of Nursing Management and Leadership I. Clemen — Subpart B (pp 328-654 of 982) p. 125-127