Nursing Perceptions and Experiences

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Nursing Perceptions and Experiences

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, collaboration between different healthcare professionals is essential for ensuring quality patient care. Nursing, being at the forefront of patient care, plays a pivotal role in these interdisciplinary teams. However, the perception of whether nursing is recognized as an equal professional partner alongside other disciplines varies depending on the work environment and organizational culture. In my current practice as a nurse, I have observed both positive strides toward equality in interdisciplinary collaboration as well as challenges that still hinder nursing’s full recognition as an equal partner.

Perceptions of Nursing in Interdisciplinary Teams

In my workplace, nurses are integral members of the healthcare team, collaborating with physicians, pharmacists, physical therapists, and social workers. This collaboration is largely driven by the complexity of patient care, which often requires input from multiple disciplines. For instance, during patient rounds or care planning meetings, nurses contribute their unique perspective, focusing on the patient’s daily care needs, progress, and potential concerns. These contributions are valued, as they provide critical insights that complement the medical or therapeutic approaches taken by other team members.

However, while nurses are recognized for their clinical expertise, there are times when their input may be overlooked, particularly in decision-making processes. In certain situations, physicians or other specialists might dominate discussions, with nurses having to assert themselves to ensure their contributions are fully considered. This reflects the persistent hierarchical nature of healthcare, where nursing is sometimes viewed as subordinate to other professions like medicine (Tschannen et al., 2016). While this is not the norm in every case, it can create a perception that nursing is not always regarded as an equal partner.

Nursing’s Contribution to Interdisciplinary Care

Despite these occasional challenges, nursing consistently contributes to the success of interdisciplinary care. Nurses play a crucial role in ensuring continuity of care, acting as the constant presence in patient care from admission to discharge. Their ability to monitor patients closely, manage medication, assess progress, and educate patients and families places them in a unique position to advocate for patients within the healthcare team. For example, in my current practice, nurses frequently lead discussions on patient discharge plans, ensuring that care transitions are smooth and that patients have the necessary resources to manage their conditions at home.

Moreover, nursing’s holistic approach to patient care—addressing not only physical health but also emotional, psychological, and social factors—makes their contributions invaluable in creating comprehensive care plans (Choi & Kim, 2020). Nurses’ ability to identify subtle changes in patient conditions, often before they become critical, also reinforces the importance of their role in interdisciplinary teams. This proactive approach to patient care often helps prevent complications and improves patient outcomes, further demonstrating nursing’s equal status in the healthcare system.

Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication is key to successful interdisciplinary collaboration, and in my experience, nursing is central to facilitating communication between different healthcare professionals. Nurses are often the link between patients, families, and the rest of the healthcare team. This role requires nurses to communicate patient needs, advocate for them, and ensure that their voices are heard. In situations where patients may have difficulty understanding medical terminology or feel intimidated by the healthcare system, nurses act as mediators, breaking down information and ensuring that patients are fully informed and empowered to make decisions about their care (Garon, 2016).

In interdisciplinary meetings, nurses also help coordinate care by ensuring that each professional’s input is integrated into a cohesive plan that meets the patient’s needs. This collaboration is especially important in managing complex cases where multiple treatments or interventions are required. By facilitating communication and advocating for patients, nurses contribute to the overall effectiveness of the healthcare team.

Challenges and Opportunities

While nursing’s role in interdisciplinary teams is recognized, there are still areas where improvements are needed to ensure full equality. One challenge is the lingering perception of nursing as a task-oriented profession rather than a discipline with its own body of knowledge and expertise. This perception can sometimes lead to nurses being excluded from decision-making processes or having their recommendations overlooked (Tschannen et al., 2020). Additionally, nurses may face barriers in terms of professional development and leadership opportunities within healthcare teams.

However, as healthcare continues to evolve, there are growing opportunities for nursing to assert itself as an equal professional partner. Initiatives aimed at promoting interprofessional education, where nursing students are trained alongside medical and allied health students, are helping to foster mutual respect and understanding among future healthcare professionals (Choi & Kim, 2020). By continuing to emphasize the unique contributions that nursing brings to patient care, and by advocating for greater leadership roles within healthcare organizations, nursing can further establish its equal status within interdisciplinary teams.

Conclusion

In my current work environment, nursing is recognized as a key player in interdisciplinary healthcare teams, though there are still challenges to achieving full equality. Nurses’ contributions to patient care are invaluable, particularly in terms of communication, patient advocacy, and holistic care. However, overcoming the hierarchical nature of healthcare and promoting a deeper understanding of nursing’s expertise will be essential for ensuring that nurses are fully recognized as equal professional partners in the evolving healthcare landscape.

References

Choi, S., & Kim, J. (2020). Interprofessional education and collaborative practice in nursing: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today, 91, 104484. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2020.104484

Garon, M. (2022). Speaking up, being heard: Registered nurses’ perceptions of workplace communication. Journal of Nursing Management, 24(4), 399–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12336

Tschannen, D., Kalisch, B. J., & Lee, K. H. (2016). Missed nursing care: The impact on intention to leave and turnover. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 21(4), 306-313. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000140