Abstract

Although several researchers have emphasized the benefits of interdisciplinary teams in long-term care, lower status workers, who often have the most intimate knowledge of the patients, are infrequently included in team meetings. In addition, some lower status workers have reported that when they have attended meetings, they felt as if their input was not valued. Since these staff members frequently have important information about a patient’s functioning, such as response to medication or diet, their integration into team meetings is likely to benefit patient care. This research study explored the variables of team effectiveness, stress, coping, and self-esteem among interdisciplinary team members, including certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, in 10 long-term care units. The results indicate that significant differences exist in estimates of team effectiveness in the units and that status was an important variable in the estimates of team functioning. Finally, significant differences were found in sources of stress and type of coping based on age, discipline, gender, and race/ethnicity. The results of the study may be used to implement changes to facilitate the effective implementation of interdisciplinary teams in long-term care.