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Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to identify and adjust learned behaviors which interfere with true collaboration.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to discuss the impact of mutual respect and trust in development of attitudes that are congruent with collaborative practice behaviors.
Beginning in 2000 the Institute of Medicine clearly established the importance of fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork with regard to improving patient care quality and safety in acute care hospitals. IOM documents also presented evidence of the positive impact that interdisciplinary collaboration and teamwork can have on other key dimensions of organizational performance. Interdisciplinary collaboration represents a significant issue confronting hospital and nursing executives, deans of colleges of nursing and medicine and practicing nurses and physicians. The aim of this study was to examine the extent to which collective self-esteem and attitudes toward collaboration were predictors to nurse-to-nurse, nurse-to-physician and physician to nurse collaborative practice behaviors in acute care hospitals. The conceptual framework used to guide the study was derived from social identity theory, symbolic interaction theory, and relevant published research on nurse physician collaboration in contemporary acute care hospitals. Three instruments were mailed to randomly selected registered nurses and physicians in southwest Ohio. Bivariate and multi-variable regression relationships were determined. In the prediction of nurse-to-nurse collaboration, a model comprised of attitudes toward collaboration (JSA) and collective self-esteem (CSE) revealed a significant contribution from JSA (t(88) =5.58, p <. 0001) and CSE (t(88) =2.55,
p < .0126). In the prediction of nurse-to-physician collaboration, a model comprised of JSA and CSE revealed a significant contribution from JSA (t(88) = 5.5, p < .0001) and a non-significant contribution from CSE (t(88) = 1.77, p =.08). A similar finding resulted when examining physician-to-nurse collaborative practice, where a significant contribution from JSA (t(63)= 5.23, p < .0001) and a nonsignificant contribution from CSE (t(63) = 0.08, p < 0.9366) was found.