BLOOM’S TAXONOMY MAPPING: This module addresses multiple levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, progressing from foundational knowledge of team communication and psychological safety mechanisms, through skilled application during clinical interactions, to competence in designing and sustaining peer support practices.
● Define psychological safety and explain its role in team performance and patient safety.
● Describe how acute stress affects communication, attention, and perspective-taking in clinical teams.
● Explain the purpose and structure of peer support systems including buddy systems and structured debriefs.
● Identify common conflict dynamics in hierarchical healthcare systems and distinguish task from relational conflict.
● Apply at least one structured communication tool (e.g. clarification loop, check-back) in a high-pressure situation.
● Initiate and conduct a brief (5-minute) peer debrief using a three-question structured format.
● Demonstrate at least one behaviour that actively promotes psychological safety within a team interaction.
● Analyse a clinical team scenario to identify communication breakdowns, hierarchy effects, and missed peer support opportunities.
● Evaluate team communication patterns to recommend system-level or behavioural-level changes that enhance psychological safety.
● Design a realistic buddy check-in routine appropriate for the participant’s own work environment and shift structure.
|
Term |
Definition |
|
Reflective Team Formats |
Reflective team formats are structured group discussions that allow team members to share experiences, explore different perspectives, and process challenging situations in a supportive environment. They promote learning, emotional processing, and mutual understanding. |
|
Closed Loop Communication |
Closed-loop communication is a communication technique in which information is clearly delivered, repeated back by the receiver, and confirmed by the sender. This process reduces misunderstandings and improves accuracy, particularly in high-pressure situations. |
|
Peer Support |
Peer support is the emotional, practical, and professional assistance provided by colleagues who share similar work experiences. It helps reduce stress, normalize challenges, and strengthen resilience and team cohesion. |
|
Structured Debrief |
A structured debrief is a brief, guided discussion conducted after a significant event or demanding situation. It helps participants review what happened, reflect on emotional and practical aspects, and identify lessons for future practice. |
|
Interprofessional Conflict |
Interprofessional conflict refers to disagreements or tensions between members of different professional groups (e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists, administrative staff). Such conflicts often arise from differing roles, responsibilities, communication styles, or expectations. |
|
Buddy System |
A buddy system is a peer-support approach in which two colleagues regularly check in with one another to share experiences, provide encouragement, and monitor well-being. It promotes connection, early support, and mutual accountability. |
|
Psychological Safety |
Psychological safety is a shared belief that team members can speak up, ask questions, admit mistakes, and express concerns without fear of blame, embarrassment, or negative consequences. |
Team communication and peer support are core components of workforce well-being, patient safety, and organizational resilience in healthcare. This module frames communication not as an individual ‘soft skill’, but as a team-level protective structure that shapes psychological safety, speaking-up behaviour, role clarity, and the capacity to recover after emotionally demanding clinical events.
The module integrates evidence-informed concepts from team science, stress physiology, psychological safety research, interprofessional collaboration, and peer-support practice. Participants examine how acute stress, hierarchy, role ambiguity, and unresolved conflict can narrow attention, reduce perspective-taking, and increase emotional strain. At the same time, they learn how structured communication tools, respectful challenge, short debriefs, and buddy check-ins can create conditions for clarity, mutual support, and shared learning.
During the pilot sessions, learning is assessed through a blended portfolio of practical methods. Participants complete a knowledge check, practise psychologically safe responses in role-play, facilitate a brief structured team debrief, design a feasible buddy check-in routine, analyse a scenario involving hierarchy and silence, and document transfer into their own workplace. In this way, the module links theoretical understanding with observable communication behaviours and sustainable peer-support routines in everyday healthcare practice.
After completing this module, participants will be able to:
● Apply at least one structured communication tool to manage a high-pressure or emotionally tense conversation within their team.
● Initiate and conduct a brief (5-minute) peer debrief using a structured debrief protocol.
● Demonstrate one behavior that contributes to psychological safety (e.g., inviting input, acknowledging uncertainty, or responding constructively to feedback).
● Identify and articulate at least two team dynamics (e.g., hierarchy, avoidance, role ambiguity) that undermine cohesion in their work environment.
● Implement a buddy check-in or short team reflection routine within their shift or weekly workflow.
