Physicians and nurses: friends or foes? 2004

Barbara LeTourneau
Regions Hospital, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. Barbara.C.LeTourneau@HealthPartners.com

Changes in the roles of physicians and nurses have resulted in interdisciplinary tension and conflict between these professionals. A strong collaborative practice is critical not only to the delivery of high-quality, cost-efficient patient care but also to the personal and professional satisfaction of physicians and nurses. Cooperation in caregiving starts with a shared vision and stated behavior expectations; implementation of this vision then leads to collaboration. Hospital executives and managers are responsible for supporting and facilitating the processes related to this vision implementation. Specifically, they should ensure that systems within the organization do not promote conflict between caregivers. In addition, they should augment the vision and behavior-change initiatives with joint nurse-physician activities that are centered around both professionals' shared interest in good patient care. An example of such an activity is creating opportunities for physicians and nurses to together discuss and plan improvements in delivery of care.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D003299 Cooperative Behavior The interaction of two or more persons or organizations directed toward a common goal which is mutually beneficial. An act or instance of working or acting together for a common purpose or benefit, i.e., joint action. (From Random House Dictionary Unabridged, 2d ed) Compliant Behavior,Behavior, Compliant,Behavior, Cooperative,Compliant Behaviors,Cooperative Behaviors
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D019555 Physician-Nurse Relations The reciprocal interaction of physicians and nurses. Nurse-Physician Relations,Physician Nurse Relationship,Nurse Physician Relations,Nurse Relationship, Physician,Nurse Relationships, Physician,Nurse-Physician Relation,Physician Nurse Relations,Physician Nurse Relationships,Physician-Nurse Relation,Relation, Nurse-Physician,Relation, Physician-Nurse,Relations, Nurse-Physician,Relations, Physician-Nurse,Relationship, Physician Nurse,Relationships, Physician Nurse

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