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OBJECTIVES: To explore interprofessional team members' experiences of teamwork at an intensive care unit.

DESIGN: Qualitative content analysis of focus group interviews with members from the intensive care teams.

SETTING: University hospital in Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: In total, 31 participants were interviewed. Enrolled nurses (n=7), critical care registered nurses (n=16), and intensive care physicians (n=8) employed at an intensive care unit were divided into nine focus groups organised according to the profession.

RESULTS: The overall theme, Balancing behaviour and knowledge in teamwork, emerged from the two categories of creating a safe atmosphere when working in an unknown environment and counteracting and mitigating destructive team dynamics. The theme captures how well-functioning teamwork must take into account members not acting as team players while also building a secure environment when working in new surroundings outside the intensive care unit. The categories describe how mutual respect, effective teamwork and a safe atmosphere were fostered through support without taking over tasks and countering power structures.

CONCLUSIONS: Navigating teamwork during critical situations is inherently complex, making it essential to understand team interactions and factors influencing individual behaviour. To ensure patient safety, the interprofessional team must recognise, understand and manage diverse behaviours and knowledge in dynamic settings. This research contributes to existing knowledge on teamwork in the intensive care context by providing insights into how knowledge and behaviour in teamwork can be optimised to enhance patient safety.