In today’s world healthcare all over the world is profoundly challenged by rapid technological advancements, violence, terrorism, diverse cultures, proliferating chronic diseases, and the worst nursing shortage. In addition to these complex and daunting challenges healthcare continue to focus the attention on hospitals to review and modify the way care is delivered to patients. As key role players and consistent members of the multidisciplinary team critical care nurses are uniquely positioned to modify and review the quality of patient care through synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies, and the critical care environment. A collaborative approach towards enhancing synergy in a CCU was undertaken in a CCU in a private hospital in Gauteng. The study was guided by the American Association for Critical Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care and conducted within the critical social theory paradigm. The nature of the research was descriptive, explorative and contextual and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Action research cycles were followed to assess existing synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies and the characteristics of the environment in the CCU. An action plan was formulated and implemented towards enhancing synergy in the CCU. The implemented plan was adjusted based on observations and reflections following each of the five cycles of the project / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)

In today’s world healthcare all over the world is profoundly challenged by rapid technological advancements, violence, terrorism, diverse cultures, proliferating chronic diseases, and the worst nursing shortage. In addition to these complex and daunting challenges healthcare continue to focus the attention on hospitals to review and modify the way care is delivered to patients. As key role players and consistent members of the multidisciplinary team critical care nurses are uniquely positioned to modify and review the quality of patient care through synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies, and the critical care environment. A collaborative approach towards enhancing synergy in a CCU was undertaken in a CCU in a private hospital in Gauteng. The study was guided by the American Association for Critical Care Nurses Synergy Model for Patient Care and conducted within the critical social theory paradigm. The nature of the research was descriptive, explorative and contextual and both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Action research cycles were followed to assess existing synergy between the patients’ needs, the nurses’ competencies and the characteristics of the environment in the CCU. An action plan was formulated and implemented towards enhancing synergy in the CCU. The implemented plan was adjusted based on observations and reflections following each of the five cycles of the project / Health Studies / D. Litt. et Phil. (Health Studies)