When Roles Collide

Description

During morning rounds on a mental health unit, a conflict arises as the interdisciplinary team comes together to discuss the care plan for a child recently admitted to the mental health unit with self-harming behaviours. Each professional brings a different approach to managing the patient with self-harm. The nurses focused on the child's medical status, treatment plan, and safety precautions. They unintentionally came across as too clinical, overshadowing the family's emotional needs. The CYW workers focused on emphasizing relationship-building, while the psychologist prioritized giving the patient a voice and autonomy, aligning with a trauma-informed approach. Tension emerged when the nursing student dismissed the psychologist and CYW's input, suggesting it was "unsafe" and a strict structure was necessary for safety. The conversation has shifted from collaborative to confrontational, with each person defending their professional approach instead of seeking common ground.