ACADEMIC LEVEL Undergrad. (yrs 3-4) DISCIPLINE Nursing DOCUMENT TYPE Assignment SPACING DOUBLE CITATION STYLE APA

1. Running head: INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM COLLABORATION 1
Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
Name
Institution

2. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM COLLABORATION 2
Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
Many studies have suggested the use of a collaborative approach to minimize the
number of errors when taking care of patients and the general health of the community.
Bringing together professionals with a wealth of experience in different disciplines will
ensure that the caregivers are working together with a common goal and also ensure that they
are supplied with all pertinent information and resources required to handle and take care of a
disease (Morley & Cashell, 2017). Interdisciplinary team collaboration consists of
professionals from all departments involved with the management of public affairs. It is a
dynamic system involving two or more individuals with complementary professional
histories and skills working towards the same objective (Nancarrow, 2013). In the wake of
the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, the state of Minnesota has brought together experts
from all departments of public administration to work together with a common goal of
flattening the infection rate.
In the case of Minnesota, the governor has held several press conferences that have
demonstrated how they are working collaboratively to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The
press conference held on March 14, 2020, involved the governor of Minnesota Tim Walz. He
represents the state government of Minnesota, commissioner Malcolm representing the
Minnesota department of health, the attorney general of Minnesota representing the people of
Minnesota, commissioner Steve Grove representing the state Department of employment and
economic development and the business community, and commissioner Joe Kelly
representing the emergency management department. The press conference aimed to
announce a raft of measures to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The governor

3. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM COLLABORATION 3
of the state announced a peace state of emergency that would restrict movement and enforce
social distancing g measures as announced by Commissioner Malcolm. The press conference
also informed the people of Minnesota of the situation of the COVID-19. The speakers gave
statistics concerning the number of people who have been tested, those that have turned
positive, and the projected or desired number of tests per day. While giving this information,
the speakers quoted or relied on information provided by the WHO and CDC. It would have
been important for the speakers to give a brake-down of the ages of those infected so that
people can be more aware of the risk group. However, ethical considerations should be
considered so as not to give information that might reveal the identity of a patient.
In my opinion, the press was successful in informing the public. The press conference
was held by experts from several departments that provided important information about the
state and conditions of the disease. For instance, the attorney general gave information about
the possibility of scammers who take advantage of the crisis to swindle and scam innocent
residents. With such information, the people will take necessary precautions when dealing
with the pandemic. Also, the people were well informed about gatherings and how they
should handle them at this particular time. The issue of school-going children was also well
communicated with the speakers insisting that the children or young ages are at a lower risk
of infection. As such, schools will remain open until further considerations are made. A
member of the police or law enforcement would have provided more information on how
security will be handled during this situation. Nurses could have played a role in the
conference by providing more information about the pandemic. A nurse would have
elaborated about the symptoms of the disease and how it spreads from one person to another
and give information about all risk factors.

4. INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM COLLABORATION 4
References
Facebook. Walz holding press conference as MN COVID-19 cases hit 14. https://
www.facebook.com/MPRnews/videos/341070166831845/?v=341070166831845
Morley L. & Cashell A. Continuing Medical Education: Collaboration in Health Care.
Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences 48 (2017), 207-216
Nancarrow, S. A., Booth, A., Ariss, S., Smith, T., Enderby, P., & Roots, A. (2013). Ten
principles of good interdisciplinary teamwork. Human resources for Health, 11(1), 19.