BACKGROUND:

A gap exists between best evidence and best practice in intensive care units. The aim of this study was to investigate different aspects of intensive care nurses' and physicians' inter- and intraprofessional collaboration, with focus on factors associated with standardised weaning from mechanical ventilation.

METHODS:

A qualitative design was used for implementing research-based knowledge into multistage focus group discussions. Data were analysed by means of qualitative content analysis.

RESULTS:

This qualitative research paper describes a successful example of interprofessional education with family medicine residents (FMR) by a nurse practitioner (NP) colleague. The educational impact of the NP role in regard to smoking cessation counselling is revealed by the analysis of 16 semi-structured interviews using a phenomenological approach. The key themes depicted the NP as an educator and mentor, encourager and referral resource. Outcomes of improved knowledge, skills, and motivation towards providing smoking cessation counselling are described.

PubMed URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19517288

Registered nurses (RNs) in Ontario have been asked to work collaboratively with family physicians (FPs) and other healthcare professionals in the family practice setting to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery (OFPN 2005). Yet, little is known about the optimal utilization of the RN's role in family practice. This study builds on recent conversations regarding utilization of the nursing workforce (Oelke et al. 2008) and the nursing role (White et al.

OBJECTIVE:

To explore team structures, team relationships, and organizational culture constituting interprofessional collaboration (IPC) in a particular rehabilitation setting; to develop a description of IPC practice that may be translated, adapted, and operationalized in other clinical environments.

DESIGN:

BACKGROUND: Interprofessional practice has increasingly been recognized as important for chronic illness care. Recently, several health care professional-accrediting bodies have called for integration of interprofessional care and education. The shared medical appointment (SMA) is an interprofessional practice model that provides an educational opportunity.

OBJECTIVE: A description of this innovative educational model, the challenges associated with the implementation, and the evaluation are presented.

METHOD: Mixed quantitative and qualitative analysis were utilized.

Health-care workers serving homeless persons often face difficulties in addressing the needs of this population due to the complexity of the health challenges and gaps in clinical knowledge. How can health-care workers enhance their ability to care for this population? The authors explore the learning and knowledge-integration strategies of nurses and client care workers employed by organizations targeting homeless persons in a Canadian city.

OBJECTIVE:

To present and describe interprofessional education (IPE) in 6 US colleges of pharmacy including benefits, barriers, and strategies for implementation.

METHODS:

A focus group with campus faculty IPE leaders and administrators was conducted at each of the 6 colleges. External facilitators used a structured script with open-ended questions to guide each session. A qualitative approach was used and content analysis of transcripts was conducted.

RESULTS:

PubMed URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19678465

Clinical practice provides the stimulus for students and practitioners alike to recognise best practice and, if necessary, enhance and modify existing practice. Increasingly, literature related to health service delivery and health workforce planning focuses on the need for collaborative interprofessional work practices.