BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam//NONSGML v1.0//EN NAME:PhD defence F.S. Dijkstra METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART:20260211T114500 DTEND:20260211T131500 DTSTAMP:20260211T114500 UID:2026/phd-defence-f-s-dijkstra@8F96275E-9F55-4B3F-A143-836282E12573 CREATED:20260408T212339 LOCATION:(1st floor) Auditorium, Main building De Boelelaan 1105 1081 HV Amsterdam SUMMARY:PhD defence F.S. Dijkstra X-ALT-DESC;FMTTYPE=text/html:

Does one size fit all?< /p>

Collaborating under stress in healthcare requires tailored ap proaches, not standard training

When it really matters, teamwork must come naturally

In the e mergency department, during resuscitation, or when a patient suddenly deteriorates, doctors and nurses must act quickly. Teams change cons tantly and the pressure is high. In such moments, effective communica tion is crucial for patient safety. Research shows, however, that col laboration under stress differs significantly from teamwork in calm s ituations - and that education does not yet sufficiently address this . Dijkstra demonstrates that stress affects not only technical skills , but also how people listen, make decisions, and communicate with on e another.

Learning from the police and nuclear power p lants

To better understand what teams need under press ure, Dijkstra deliberately looked beyond healthcare. She began with a literature review of sectors where working under stress is an everyd ay reality, such as policing and nuclear power plants. She combined t hese insights with interviews with doctors and nurses about their exp eriences in acute situations. In addition, she observed healthcare te ams during a resuscitation competition and analyzed how communication and leadership take shape under time pressure. Finally, she examined how nursing students themselves view learning to collaborate in stre ssful situations.

No “one size fits all”

A key conclusion is that healthcare professionals and students d iffer greatly in how they experience stress and in what they need to collaborate effectively. Some learn best by being directly exposed to realistic pressure, while others need more structure, reflection, or a gradual buildup. This makes a standard, one-size-fits-all training approach ineffective.

Based on her research, Dijkstra develope d training principles to help educators design more flexible and real istic education. For example, students can practice in simulation tra ining where they collaborate under time pressure with unfamiliar coll eagues - safe, yet highly realistic.

Directly applicabl e in healthcare education and beyond

The findings are relevant for nursing and medical education programs, healthcare organ izations, and healthcare professionals. On a small scale, the insight s are already being applied within Dijkstra’s own program, with bro ader implementation possible in the near future. Ultimately, patients also benefit: better collaboration under stress reduces the risk of errors when it matters most. The developed principles are not exclusi ve to healthcare; sectors such as ambulance services, fire brigades, and the police can also use them to better prepare teams for working together under pressure.

More information on the thesis

DESCRIPTION:

Collaborating under stress in healthcare requires tai lored approaches, not standard training

Healthcare professionals often have to work under intense pressure with colleagues they barel y know. Yet training in collaboration under stress is still rarely a structural part of healthcare education. Research by education and fa mily scientist Femke Dijkstra shows that a single, fixed training for mula does not work. Effective training requires a tailored approach i n which stress is deliberately and safely integrated. When it really matters, teamwork must come naturally In the emergen cy department, during resuscitation, or when a patient suddenly deter iorates, doctors and nurses must act quickly. Teams change constantly and the pressure is high. In such moments, effective communication i s crucial for patient safety. Research shows, however, that collabora tion under stress differs significantly from teamwork in calm situati ons - and that education does not yet sufficiently address this. Dijk stra demonstrates that stress affects not only technical skills, but also how people listen, make decisions, and communicate with one anot her. Learning from the police and nuclear power plants To better understand what teams need under pressure, Dijkstra deli berately looked beyond healthcare. She began with a literature review of sectors where working under stress is an everyday reality, such a s policing and nuclear power plants. She combined these insights with interviews with doctors and nurses about their experiences in acute situations. In addition, she observed healthcare teams during a resus citation competition and analyzed how communication and leadership ta ke shape under time pressure. Finally, she examined how nursing stude nts themselves view learning to collaborate in stressful situations. No “one size fits all” A key conclusion is that healthcare professionals and students differ greatly in how they expe rience stress and in what they need to collaborate effectively. Some learn best by being directly exposed to realistic pressure, while oth ers need more structure, reflection, or a gradual buildup. This makes a standard, one-size-fits-all training approach ineffective. Based o n her research, Dijkstra developed training principles to help educat ors design more flexible and realistic education. For example, studen ts can practice in simulation training where they collaborate under t ime pressure with unfamiliar colleagues - safe, yet highly realistic. Directly applicable in healthcare education and beyond The findings are relevant for nursing and medical education progr ams, healthcare organizations, and healthcare professionals. On a sma ll scale, the insights are already being applied within Dijkstra’s own program, with broader implementation possible in the near future. Ultimately, patients also benefit: better collaboration under stress reduces the risk of errors when it matters most. The developed princ iples are not exclusive to healthcare; sectors such as ambulance serv ices, fire brigades, and the police can also use them to better prepa re teams for working together under pressure. More information on the thesis Does one size fit all? END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR