Burroughs and Bartholomew (2014) emphasizes the importance of the relationship between nurses and physicians, and how critical it is that the two groups work together harmoniously. Over the past thirty years, we have been slowly moving away from the traditional nurse-physician relationship where the nurse is subordinate to the physician. Doctors have traditionally been seen as the leader in the two relationships based on their advanced education and training. This tradition has carried over into modern times, in part because physicians are often considered contract players or independent of the overall hospital hierarchy since they typically set their own rules in practice.
However, Burroughs and Bartholomew (2012) explains the nurse and …show more content…
According to Nair, Fitzpatrick, McNulty, Click and Glembocki (2012), communication failures are often the root cause behind 70% of annual sentinel events. Miscommunication was identified as the single most significant factor that was associated with hospital mortality rates.
Vogwill and Reeves (2008) reported that communication styles are vastly different between nurses and physicians, which is often a reason why there is a breakdown in the transmission of information and/or fractious interpersonal relationships. Vogwill and Reeves (2008) reported that there is no consistent, structured approach for information sharing between nurses and physicians. Most physicians display a problem-solving, action oriented approach, while nurses often narrate patient information in a format that may include generalizations and gut feelings. There is also a fundamental difference in perspective between nurses and physicians. Nurses are trained to see the “big clinical picture” or to view the patient holistically. Physicians’ medical training focuses on the “presenting situation” and strategizes diagnostic interventions and cures, without necessarily considering the emotional or social factors that are affecting the …show more content…
The sentinel event statistic in the secondary article from Nair et al (2012) was shocking to read, and is a call to action. At our institution, strong nurse-physician relationships exist in many instances, but often fall flat at times, in some departments in particular. We cannot allow a fixable problem like this to go unaddressed.
In so far as we lack enough physicians for some practices, we should support nurse practitioners taking a greater leadership role, and also make it easier for less educated nurses to take the classes and training they need to move up to the practitioner level. It is a good idea to make nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who have been unofficial leaders in their respective areas for several years, regularized as leaders in our hospital, which includes adding them to key
However, Burroughs and Bartholomew (2012) explains the nurse and …show more content…
According to Nair, Fitzpatrick, McNulty, Click and Glembocki (2012), communication failures are often the root cause behind 70% of annual sentinel events. Miscommunication was identified as the single most significant factor that was associated with hospital mortality rates.
Vogwill and Reeves (2008) reported that communication styles are vastly different between nurses and physicians, which is often a reason why there is a breakdown in the transmission of information and/or fractious interpersonal relationships. Vogwill and Reeves (2008) reported that there is no consistent, structured approach for information sharing between nurses and physicians. Most physicians display a problem-solving, action oriented approach, while nurses often narrate patient information in a format that may include generalizations and gut feelings. There is also a fundamental difference in perspective between nurses and physicians. Nurses are trained to see the “big clinical picture” or to view the patient holistically. Physicians’ medical training focuses on the “presenting situation” and strategizes diagnostic interventions and cures, without necessarily considering the emotional or social factors that are affecting the …show more content…
The sentinel event statistic in the secondary article from Nair et al (2012) was shocking to read, and is a call to action. At our institution, strong nurse-physician relationships exist in many instances, but often fall flat at times, in some departments in particular. We cannot allow a fixable problem like this to go unaddressed.
In so far as we lack enough physicians for some practices, we should support nurse practitioners taking a greater leadership role, and also make it easier for less educated nurses to take the classes and training they need to move up to the practitioner level. It is a good idea to make nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who have been unofficial leaders in their respective areas for several years, regularized as leaders in our hospital, which includes adding them to key