Ask any healthcare professional what they strive for most, and chances are, they will report enhanced patient care, stronger patient outcomes, and a positive work environment.

Interprofessional collaboration in nursing and patient care is one of the keys to accomplishing these goals—and more.¹ Generally characterized as a group effort to bring together multiple healthcare experts, it is widely considered one of the most vital ingredients in delivering safe and effective care.

We will map out the basics of interprofessional collaboration in medical facilities, the benefits it offers to both patients and providers, and the essential role nurses play in the endeavor.

Nursing Programs

What is Interprofessional Collaboration? 

Put simply, interprofessional collaboration is another way to say “teamwork.” More specifically, it is a structured approach to patient care that incorporates a whole team of health professionals.

Described by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a “collaborative practice [that] happens when multiple health workers from different professional backgrounds work together with patients, families, careers, and communities to deliver the highest quality of care across settings,” its importance reached new heights during the pandemic when healthcare professionals had to work together as a single unit to prevent, combat, and treat the virus.²

Its value remains to this day. For example, imagine a patient who has been accepted into the emergency room for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) following a car accident. After being urgently treated, a healthcare team might be created to address the patient’s immediate and long-term needs. This might involve a:

• Neurologist
• Primary care physician
• Surgeon
• Technologist
• Psychologist or psychiatrist
• Physical therapist
• Occupational therapist
• Intensive care unit nurse
• Home care nurse
• Social workers

These professionals will then work together to design a treatment plan, consult with the patient and their family, tend to the patient, evaluate the outcomes, and make adjustments when necessary—all in the name of facilitating the patient’s recovery.

The Importance of Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing

Few healthcare workers operate in isolation. Meaning, no matter the patient, circumstances, or medical facility, several professionals may have to collaborate to ensure patients are treated holistically.

The benefits of interprofessional team collaboration are profound. By and large, nurses are trained to view the whole of a person, and treating them safely and effectively often requires interacting with a large team of health professionals: physicians, technologists, researchers, administrators, and more. In turn, healthcare facilities, patients, and providers may reap several rewards from this team mentality, such as:

• Better conflict management
• Increased confidence, motivation, and job satisfaction
• Decreased emotional exhaustion
• Reduced stress and burnout
• Greater operational efficiency

Let’s look at two other crucial benefits of interprofessional team collaboration:

Improved Patient Outcomes

Interprofessional collaboration leverages the knowledge, experience, and skills of any number of healthcare experts—and this alone may enhance patient outcomes (again, because the “whole” of a person, including their mental health and wellness goals, are taken into consideration, rather than a single, specific diagnosis).

Additionally, interprofessional collaboration may have the power to boost patient engagement and:³

• Curb the incidence rate (and overall prevalence) of disabilities
• Reduce adverse reactions to medications
• Optimize medication dosages
• Decrease mortality rates
• Prevent hospitalizations

On top of all this, well-executed interprofessional collaboration may help patients cut down on their medical costs (while also dialing down costs for a healthcare facility).

Enhanced Communication and Coordination

One of the primary aims of interpersonal collaboration is to ensure that critical patient information is shared among a patient’s healthcare team in a timely, effective manner. As a result, this may lead to more efficient and productive coordination.

Key Participants in Interprofessional Collaboration

The main participants in interprofessional collaboration are as unique as the patients themselves.

One patient may need nothing more than a physician, a nurse, and a pharmacist. Another patient—say a pregnant woman experiencing life-threatening difficulties during childbirth—may require a great deal more expertise, such as an OBGYN, a women’s health nurse, an ICU nurse, and a surgeon.

That being said, interprofessional collaboration in the nursing practice may involve nurses themselves, as well as:⁴

• Physicians
• Social workers
• Health educators
• Faith counselors
• Attorneys
• Government employees
• Community advocates
• Policymakers
• Lab technicians
• Radiologists
• Physical therapists
• Dietitians 
• Stakeholders

This list may seem long, but it is just the start of the number of people who may play a part in a patient’s treatment and recovery plan; it also emphasizes the crucial role nurses play in keeping a patient’s team cohesive.

Lastly, a patient’s family and/or other loved ones are also included. This is key, particularly for patients who are unable to express their preferences, values, and wishes.

Challenges to Interprofessional Collaboration

As valuable and necessary as interprofessional collaboration might be, it is not a wholly flawless system. Personality clashes, differences in opinions, and even threats to one’s professional identity can all negatively impact a healthcare facility’s efforts and challenge a patient’s outcomes.⁵

Let’s take a peek at two of the biggest issues in interprofessional collaboration:

Hierarchy and Power Dynamics

Hierarchy and power dynamics are notorious for causing tension in the healthcare setting, especially if those in higher-up positions—such as surgeons and stakeholders—don’t demonstrate respect for the entirety of their healthcare team.

Fortunately, interprofessional collaboration best practices can help all members manage these challenges. We will get to these strategies soon. In the meantime, it may be good to know that in some cases, healthcare organizations may choose to create an official conflict resolution plan (should an argument erupt). Other facilities might decide to conduct an ombudsman process to see if there are any systematic problems within an organization that need to be handled at a higher level.

Differing Professional Cultures and Perspectives

Healthcare teams are frequently made up of people from various ethnic, religious, spiritual, and cultural backgrounds.

This, too, may lead to conflict and disrupt the flow (and efficiency) of patient care. Practicing compassionate, active listening, assigning leaders who encourage open interprofessional communication, and continually praising others’ unique professional skills and experience may help build a more collaborative culture.

Strategies for Effective Interprofessional Collaboration

One of the first and most vital steps in crafting a collaborative interprofessional team is establishing your chief goals and values. This might be a matter of checking in with each medical professional who is part of the group and clarifying their main concerns and objectives. This can help nurses or leaders draw up a plan that will help the team move toward a shared (and specific) result or outcome.

It is just as important to pinpoint and predict any barriers that might cause a snag in patient care and/or each member’s efforts. For example, there might be existing professional conflicts between certain members or a lack of resources.

After determining how these issues will be resolved, an interprofessional team may then want to consider the following:

Establishing Clear Roles and Responsibilities 

Each member of a patient’s healthcare team should have a thorough understanding of their role and obligations. This might include specific times when a certain healthcare professional will see a patient and when they might report back to their team.

Fostering Open Communication and Respect

As we touched upon earlier, creating an environment that prioritizes open communication and mutual respect is central to a healthcare team’s success. This may involve:

• Using collaborative technologies and tools
• Engaging in “safety huddles” to share safety concerns (and successes) and to make sure appropriate measures are being taken to assure patient safety and compliance
• Sticking to a preset schedule for patient rounds (unless there’s been a change in the patient’s health) 
• Participating in team bonding exercises
• Embracing trust-building activities
• Creating a checklist of daily, weekly, and monthly goals (for long-term patients)
• Proactively sharing care and discharge plans with all team members
• Holding structured family meetings

Interprofessional Education and Training

Interprofessional collaboration may come naturally to some healthcare facilities and/or healthcare teams—say, small, rural organizations where all healthcare experts know each other well.

Between telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and the size of some healthcare organizations, however, interprofessional collaboration might need to be taught to medical professionals. Lifelong learning in nursing is essential to adapt to evolving collaborative practices.

Luckily, there are several organizations that can assist teams with creating a framework, protocols, training, and a plan of action, like the:⁶

• Compassion Scholars Program
• Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC)
• Interprofessional Professional Collaborative (IPC)

Nursing’s Role in Promoting Interprofessional Collaboration

Nurses play a major role in interprofessional collaboration—in large part because they first and foremost serve as their patients’ primary advocates. What’s more, many are natural leaders who are gifted with the ability to see patients from a holistic viewpoint. Understanding how to be a better nurse involves enhancing these leadership and advocacy skills to effectively coordinate with other healthcare professionals.

Pursue Your Passion at Alliant International University

Interpersonal collaboration in nursing stands as one of the most important aspects of modern healthcare. Not only can it result in improved patient satisfaction and better patient outcomes, but it may also boost morale and lead to a happier, more productive, and seamless work environment.

The nursing programs at Alliant International University can teach you more about the value of interprofessional collaboration, just as they can show you how to interact mindfully and meaningfully with other healthcare professionals. Whether you’re interested in pursuing a bachelor of science in nursing or a master of science in nursing, nurse executive, Alliant International University can provide you with the confidence you need to spearhead your own interprofessional collaboration system.

Soar to new heights in the healthcare field at Alliant.

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Sources: 

1. 2023-09-11T04:00:00Z. “The Importance of Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare.” Johnson & Johnson Nursing, September 23, 2024. https://nursing.jnj.com/getting-real-nursing-today/the-importance-of-in…. Accessed October 30, 2024. 
2. “Interprofessional Collaborative Practice.” Interprofessional Collaborative Practice | World Health Professions Alliance. Accessed October 30, 2024. https://www.whpa.org/activities/interprofessional-collaborative-practice.  Accessed October 30, 2024. 
3. Interprofessional Collaboration made easy. https://www.myamericannurse.com/interprofessional-collaboration-made-ea…. Accessed October 30, 2024. 
4. Bridges, Diane R, Richard A Davidson, Peggy Soule Odegard, Ian V Maki, and John Tomkowiak. “Interprofessional Collaboration: Three Best Practice Models of Interprofessional Education.” Medical education online, April 8, 2011. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3081249/. Accessed October 30, 2024. 
5. Munaza, and Syed Faizan. “Benefits & Challenges Interprofessional Collaboration in Healthcare.” Hucu AI, March 16, 2024. https://www.hucu.ai/benefits-challenges-interprofessional-collaboration…. Accessed October 30, 2024.
6. “Home.” AACN. https://www.aacnnursing.org/our-initiatives/education-practice/teaching…. Accessed October 30, 2024.