Clarifying the Specific Role of Nurses in Rehabilitation is Key to Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration: A...

This study aimed to clarify the perception of the specific nursing role among nurses and the interprofessional team in two rehabilitation units of a Swiss University hospital.

As part of an implementation project, we employed a multi-method design, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, to conduct a comprehensive contextual analysis in preparation for introducing an innovation in two rehabilitation units of the Geneva University Hospital. We performed 11 focus groups among nurses, nurse managers, other health care professionals, patients, and family members (N=50), analyzed using a six-stage thematic analysis approach. A structured questionnaire was additionally completed by 35 nurses.

The nursing role in rehabilitation was recognized but only partially deployed. Identified barriers included unclear role definitions, lack of leadership, organizational constraints and limited interprofessional understanding. Nurses prioritized patient autonomy and holistic care, while interprofessional teams primarily perceived nurses in delegated roles. Quantitative results highlighted the importance of prioritizing the nursing role but revealed challenges in interprofessional collaboration, particularly regarding feasibility and competence.

Clarifying and reinforcing the contributions of rehabilitation nurses is essential to enhancing leadership, interprofessional collaboration, and patient outcomes. Recommended strategies include reflective practice, interprofessional training, and promoting nursing-specific competencies early in education (undergraduate/postgraduate training).

Clarifying the specific nursing role in rehabilitation and participating in interprofessional training are key to improving collaboration and strengthening leadership. Future efforts should focus on integrating role clarification and leadership into nursing education to optimize teamwork and patient outcomes.