A Program to Improve Communication and Collaboration Between Nurses and Medical Residents

McCaffrey, Ruth G. ND, ARNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC
Hayes, Rosemarie RN, MSN
Stuart, Wendy RN, MSN
Cassell, Asenath MN
Farrell, Cheryl BSN
Miller-Reyes, Charmin BSN
Donaldson, Audeanne MSN

Ms. McCaffrey is Associate Professor, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida. Ms. Hayes is Chief Nursing Officer, Ms. Stuart is Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Ms. Cassell is Director of Nursing, Ms. Farrell is Nurse Manager, Ms. Miller-Reyes is Nurse Manager, and Ms. Donaldson is Director of Education, JFK Medical Center, Atlantis, Florida.The authors disclose that they have no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.Address correspondence to Ruth G. McCaffrey, ND, ARNP, FNP-BC, GNP-BC, Associate Professor, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431.

Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 41(4):p 172-178, 2010. | DOI: 10.3928/00220124-20100326-04

A program was implemented for nurses and medical residents to improve communication and collaboration. It has been noted that communication and collaboration between members of the health care team improve patient outcomes and job satisfaction among nurses. Nurses on the unit where medical residents trained attended a 2-hour educational program that reviewed effective communication styles and positive aspects of collaboration, including role-playing examples. Medical residents received a self-learning packet with a posttest that was returned to researchers when completed. Focus groups, including both nurses and medical residents, were held twice a month for 6 months after the educational program. Overall improvements in communication, collaboration, patient outcomes, and job satisfaction were noted from the focus group data. The educational program proved to be successful in improving collaboration and communication between nurses and medical residents, which in turn improved patient care.