Nursing opinions on collaborating with residents in new and legacy OB/GYN programs

Collaboration among physicians and nurses is vital and has shown to lead to better patient care and improve outcomes. Our study surveyed two groups of Labor and Delivery nurses in two regionally similar community hospitals in midwestern United States: one group from a new Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) residency program (n = 49) and another from an established (legacy) OB/GYN residency program (n = 49). The survey asked nurses from the hospital with new and legacy residency program about preparedness for working with residents, perceptions of nurse-resident-patient relationships, collaboration and opinions about how resident physicians impact patient safety. Most nurses from the legacy residency program showed positive perceptions of collaboration with the residency and institutional support. In the new OB/GYN residency program, nurses were generally neutral and showed skepticism about collaboration with OB/GYN resident physicians and institutional support. Nurses from both hospitals felt similarly in their comfort escalating issues to administration and in their satisfaction with interprofessional collaboration within Labor and Delivery units. Providing nurses with opportunities to learn about the role of new medical residents in their patient care setting as well as intentional collaboration between nursing and residency program administration might result in more effective collaboration between physician residents and nursing staff.