Advanced Practice Nurse Leadership Competencies in Multidisciplinary Team Care Management
Overview
This reflection paper examines advanced practice nurse (APN) leadership competencies observed during a clinical rotation, focusing on a case study of an APN coordinating multidisciplinary care for a complex chronic disease patient. The author analyzes how the APN's facilitation, decision-making, and advocacy roles improved patient outcomes and proposes enhanced strategies incorporating shared decision-making tools to strengthen team capacity.
What this reflection paper covers
- Clinical observation of APN leadership in multidisciplinary team coordination for elderly patient with multiple comorbidities
- Analysis of APN competencies including facilitation, communication, and evidence-based advocacy that improved care effectiveness
- Reflective recommendations for enhancing outcomes through structured debriefs and shared decision-making to empower team members
Preview
Discussion APN Competencies
During my clinical rotation in a hospital setting, I observed an advanced practice nurse (APN) demonstrating strong leadership competency while leading a multidisciplinary team in managing a complex chronic disease patient with multiple comorbidities. The situation involved coordinating care for an elderly patient with diabetes, heart failure, and recent mobility issues. The APN acted as the facilitator and decision-maker, convening physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and nurses to develop an integrated care plan (Yang et al., 2025). She led rounds, synthesized input from team members, advocated for evidence-based adjustments to medications and rehabilitation, and ensured clear communication to prevent fragmented care.
The utilization of this leadership competency made a significant difference. By taking charge, the APN streamlined decision-making, reduced delays in interventions, improved patient adherence through unified messaging, and enhanced overall outcomes, such as better glycemic control and fewer readmissions. This aligns with findings that APN-led multidisciplinary teams improve care effectiveness through roles like facilitator and trainer (Yang et al., 2025). If I were the APN in that situation, I would enhance the outcome by more deliberately incorporating shared decision-making tools early in the process, such as structured debriefs to empower junior team members and foster ongoing collaboration. This could build team capacity long-term and further elevate patient-centered results.
References
Yang, J., Huang, J., Han, M., Qi, H., & Xu, M. (2025). Leadership Roles, care models, and Effectiveness of Advanced Practice Nurse–Led Multidisciplinary Teams: A scoping review. International Nursing Review, 72(3), e70079. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.70079