Narrative Review: Communication and Decision-Making Dynamics Between Nurses, Paramedics, and Special Forces Teams in High-Stress Situations
Abstract
Background: Effective response to high-stress emergencies like mass casualty incidents relies on seamless collaboration among nurses, paramedics, and special forces medics. Their distinct professional cultures and protocols, if unaligned, can create dysfunctional dynamics that compromise outcomes.
Aim: This review synthesizes evidence (2010-2024) on communication, decision-making, and collaboration dynamics among these personnel in emergency scenarios, identifying barriers and facilitators to effective teamwork.
Methods: A comprehensive search across PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and military databases was conducted. Included qualitative studies, reviews, and simulations were thematically analyzed.
Results: Key themes include: contrasting professional paradigms (holistic vs. protocol-driven vs. mission-tactical); communication barriers under stress (jargon, overload); a shift to intuitive decision-making; and critical enablers like shared mental models and cross-training.
Conclusion: Genuine interoperability requires pre-event joint training, standardized communication (e.g., SBAR), and mutual role understanding. Investing in these "soft skills" is as vital as technical proficiency.
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References
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2024 Abdulrhman Jameel Alotaibi, Abdullah Nasser Alotaibi, Saeed Abdulrahman Alahmari, Saeed Abdullah Aldosari, Turki Abdullah Aldosari, Sara Abdullah Aldosari, Abdullah Mohammed Altuwaijeri, Fahad Kanaan Almutairi, Mohammed Mishal Alotaibi, Shadeed Marzouq Masoud Alqahtani
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