Marja Silén-Lipponen

Publications (6)2.14 Total impact

• Article: Potential errors and their prevention in operating room teamwork as experienced by Finnish, British and American nurses.

  Marja Silén-Lipponen, Kerttu Tossavainen, Hannele Turunen, Ann Smith
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  ABSTRACT: This study describes how the potential sources of errors and error prevention in operating room (OR) teams are experienced by Finnish, American and British nurses. The data were collected by interviews and analysed using a qualitative content analysis. Results consisted of categories demanding teamwork practice, shared responsibility in teams and organized teamwork. The demanding practice category included fear of errors, turnover in teams, overtime work and emotional distress as potential factors leading to errors in OR teamwork. Shared responsibility emphasized how the familiar teams, safety control and formal documentation of errors prevented errors. At the organizational level, the prevention of errors required scheduling of work, good management, competency and a reasonable physical environment. In order to improve safety in OR teams, recognition should be given to the balance of error-making and learning from them. More effective ways in reporting incidents should be adopted and overall reporting systems should be developed in Finnish OR teams.
  International Journal of Nursing Practice 03/2005; 11(1):21-32. · 0.72 Impact Factor
• Article: Teamwork in operating room nursing as experienced by Finnish, British and American nurses

  Marja Silén-Lipponen, Kerttu Tossavainen, Hannele Turunen, Ann Smith, Katharine Burdett
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  ABSTRACT: This study explores teamwork in operating room (OR) nursing, and the factors that improve or hinder it, as experienced by Finnish, British and American OR nurses (n = 30). A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to inform the use of a critical incident technique in collecting and analysing data obtained through interviews. The findings established four elements of OR teamwork culture: professional, distracting, organised and physical environment as a marker of teamwork. Good organisation and professionalism improved teamwork, which centred around technical competency and a willingness to co-operate. Teams whose members lacked sufficient skills or motivation, e.g. senior, novice or tired nurses, were thus a source of irritation. OR teamwork was hindered by the presence of distractions such as the unpredictability of some aspects of the work, constant changes in team composition and a need to work overtime. Moreover, excessive perfectionism made nurses worry about mistakes or suppress emotions while working in teams. The four elements of teamwork culture were found in each of the three countries represented in the study. The only finding that related specifically to each country related to the ways in which overtime was organised. Recommendations include the need for further investigation of the ways in which teamwork culture affects patient care, particularly with regard to safety issues. In addition, the emotional atmosphere of ORs should be studied with a view to developing positive OR teamwork cultures that attract nurses to work in the OR.
  Diversity in Health and Social Care. 10/2004; 1(2):127-138.
• Article: Collaboration in the operating room: the nurses' perspective.

  Marja Silén-Lipponen, Hannele Turunen, Kerttu Tossavainen
  JONA The Journal of Nursing Administration 02/2002; 32(1):16-9. · 1.42 Impact Factor
• Article: Learning about teamwork in operating room clinical placement.

  Marja Silén-Lipponen, Kerttu Tossavainen, Hannele Turunen, Ann Smith
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  ABSTRACT: The aim of nursing students' operating room (OR) clinical practice is to gain experience of the perioperative nursing process and to develop skills related to the practice within OR teams in a variety of situations. However, it has previously been problematic to get enough practical experience within OR teams because of the general urgency, e.g. rapid turnover and flow of emergency cases, and preceptors' multiple responsibilities related to their simultaneous need to work as team members. This study describes how Finnish, British and American nursing students (n = 30) experienced learning about teamwork during their OR placement period. The critical incident technique was used for data collection, and data were analysed using a descriptive phenomenological method. Three types of teamwork emerged based on the students' perceptions: functional manifestation of OR teamwork, gaining OR team membership and technical orientation of OR teamwork. The findings are discussed in relation to OR practice, education and research on ways to improve teamwork while maintaining a satisfactory OR learning context and stimulating interest in perioperative nursing.
  British journal of nursing (Mark Allen Publishing) 13(5):244-53.
• Article: Teamwork in operating room nursing - conseptual perspective and Finnish, British and American nurses' and nursing students' experiences (Tiimityö leikkaushoitotyössä - käsitteellinen näkökulma ja suomalaisten, englantilaisten ja amerikkalaisten hoitajien ja hoitotyön opiskelijoiden kokemuksia)

  Marja Silén-Lipponen
• Article: Teamwork in operating room nursing : conceptual perspective and Finnish, British and American nurses' and nursing students' experiences /

  Marja. Silén-Lipponen
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  ABSTRACT: Tiivistelmä: Tiimityö leikkaushoitotyössä : käsitteellinen näkökulma ja suomalaisten, englantilaisten ja amerikkalaisten hoitajien ja hoitotyön opiskelijoiden kokemuksia. Diss. -- Kuopion yliopisto.