COMMUNICATING EFFECTIVELY 127
Propp and colleagues (2010) found that two processes were critical to ensuring collabora- tion with physicians and other members of the health care team. These were ensuring quality de- cisions and promoting team synergy (see Table 9-3). Developing a collaborative practice model, nurses can build their credibility with physicians and enhance the workplace environment.
Another study found that communication and role understanding crucial to collaborative practice (Suter et al., 2009). Appreciation of one another’s roles was key to improving com- munication and positive patient outcomes. Focusing educational objectives on communication and understanding others’ roles, rather than more diffuse skills, such as respect, is more likely to lead to better practices, the researchers assert.
To support greater collaboration between nurses and physicians and to improve the product of nursing service—patient care—keep these principles in mind:
● Respect physicians as persons, and expect them to respect you. ● Consider yourself and your staff equal partners with physicians in health care. ● Build your staff’s clinical competence and credibility. Ensure that your staff has the clini-
cal preparation necessary to meet required standards of care. ● Actively listen and respond to physician complaints as customer complaints. Create a
problem-solving structure. Stop blaming physicians exclusively for communication problems. ● Use every opportunity to increase your staff’s contact with physicians and to include your
staff in meetings that include physicians. Remember that limited interactions contribute to poor communication.
● Establish a collaborative practice committee on your unit whose membership is composed equally of nurses and physicians. Identify problems, develop mutually satisfactory solu- tions, and learn more about each other. Emphasize similarities and the need for quality care. Begin with those physicians who have a positive attitude toward collaboration.
● Serve as a role model to your staff in nurse–physician communication. ● Support your staff in participating in collaborative efforts by words and by your actions.
If you are confronted with power plays or intimidation, what is the best way to respond? Intimidation can be counteracted by increasing self-confidence and personal feelings of power.