Interprofessional communication by junior nurses and junior doctors in the acute regional hospital setting: A qualitative descriptive study

This study aims to explore the perceptions of junior nurses and junior doctors toward their interpersonal interactions with healthcare professionals in an acute regional hospital setting. A qualitative descriptive method was used. Data were collected by individual semi-structured interviews which were audio-recorded. Participants included junior nurses (n = 6) and junior doctors (n = 4), registered within 3 months to 2 years, and employed at a large regional health service in Victoria, Australia. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Four main themes were identified. First, junior nurses and junior doctors value working as part of an interprofessional healthcare team. Feeling respected by interprofessional team members leads to improved job satisfaction. Second, preparatory education for nurses and doctors' lacks focus on interprofessional communication, including role play simulations. Third, the healthcare system in which junior nurses and junior doctors are employed is strained with heavy workloads, hindering their capacity to engage in effective interprofessional communication. Finally, positive interprofessional interactions inform collaborative approaches, which leads to provision of quality care and improvement in patient outcomes. In contrast, safe and timely patient care can be compromised by poor interprofessional communication. Junior nurses and doctors value opportunities for interprofessional collaboration. However, their capacity to engage with other healthcare professionals may be impeded by hierarchy, lack of confidence, workload demands and inadequate training. Nurses and doctors require specific training in preparatory training programs related to interprofessional communication skills.