Interprofessional Collaboration Between Nurses and Physicians in the Perioperative Period

Area of Science:

• Medical Sciences
• Nursing
• Healthcare Collaboration

Background:

• Interprofessional collaboration is crucial for effective patient care.
• Goal-Directed Therapy (GDT) requires seamless teamwork between nurses and physicians.
• Understanding collaboration dynamics is key to improving GDT implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nurses' and physicians' experiences with interprofessional collaboration dimensions during Goal-Directed Therapy (GDT).
• To examine how existing GDT protocols influence the six dimensions of interprofessional collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative design utilizing semi-structured interviews and participant observations.
• Secondary analysis of data from 23 nurses and 12 physicians across three anesthesiology departments.
• Deductive, qualitative content analysis using the Inter-Professional Activity Classification framework.

Main Results:

• Four key dimensions influencing interprofessional collaboration were identified: commitment, roles and responsibilities, interdependence, and integration of work practices.
• Hierarchical boundaries, traditional relationships, unclear responsibilities, and lack of shared knowledge posed challenges.
• Physician involvement in decisions and bedside education positively influenced collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Commitment and role clarity are critical for successful interprofessional collaboration in GDT.
• Ambiguous protocols may negatively impact nurses' sense of responsibility and collaboration effectiveness.