Five Steps to Providing Effective Feedback in the Clinical Setting: A New Approach to Promote Teamwork and Collaboration

Background: Feedback is a major component of clinical education. Feedback reinforces or modifies behavior and helps learners to validate knowledge and feel motivated to learn. Traditionally, feedback is used by clinical educators who observe learners' behavior and provide expert direction. Teamwork and collaboration is one of the six Quality and Safety Education for Nurses core competencies developed for prelicensure and graduate nurses. These skills are important in the current complex health care environment. Method: On the basis of the literature and prior experience, a new approach for clinical educators is using feedback to teach teamwork and collaboration skills. Results: Five steps educators can take to provide effective feedback in the clinical setting are to (a) create a culture of feedback, (b) use structured communication tools, (c) encourage dialogue, (d) acknowledge the human factor, and (e) embrace a leadership role. Conclusion: This new approach enhances feedback and teaches teamwork and collaboration.