The relationship between a doctor and a nurse determines the quality of services offered by the health care organization (Rice et al., 2010). Doctor-nurse relationship and communication are associated with quality health care and patient safety. As such, it is necessary for effective communication to be upheld in health care organizations to establish a collaborative relationship between the doctor and the nurse. Most policy makers intend to enhance doctor-nurse relationship and communication to achieve the necessary collaboration in the health care organizations (Zwarentein & Reeves, 2002). Despite the frustrations in hospitals, it is necessary for the doctors and nurses to communicate and constantly collaborate. They need to work as a team to achieve the set objectives. Although doctors and nurses have different professions, they can learn from each other and share knowledge. According to Zwarentein and Reeves (2002), the collaboration, inspiration, engagement, and appreciation between the doctors and nurses is essential in preventing struggles in communication. As such, a dialogue will be ensured and a doctor-nurse relationship will be ensured. I chose this nursing practice issue because the performance of the nurse is directly affected by the relationship and communication with the doctor. To ensure quick recovery of the patient, it is necessary for the patients to adhere to the instructions by the nurses and the nurses to adhere to the doctor’s instruction (Rice et al., 2010). Conversely, it is necessary for proper engagement and respect to create a good working environment and elevate performance.
Literature Review
The journals used in this literature review include;
Khan, A., Rogers, J. E., Melvin, P., Furtak, S. L., Faboyede, G. M., Schuster, M. A., & Landrigan, C. P. (2015). Physician and nurse nighttime communication and parents’ hospital experience. Pediatrics, peds-2015, 136(5), 2-10.
Lancaster, G., Kolakowsky‐Hayner, S., Kovacich, J., & Greer‐Williams, N. (2015). Interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among physicians, nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(3), 275-284.
Matziou, V., Vlahioti, E., Perdikaris, P., Matziou, T., Megapanou, E., & Petsios, K. (2014). Physician and nursing perceptions concerning interprofessional communication and collaboration. Journal of interprofessional care, 28(6), 526-533.
I feel that the chosen materials are appropriate for this exposition since they have evidence-based research as per the methodology, results, and discussions used in the sources. They help draw conclusions from already conducted studies. In essence, they critic nurse-doctor relationship and communication within a healthcare setting. As such, it is evident from these studies that for good performance in health care organizations, it is vital to uphold great values in communication and good relationship. In addition to the collaboration between the nurse and the physicians, it is important for the patients and the family of the patient to maintain good rapport and communication with the nurses on duty. One particular setup that calls for good communication and relationship between all the stakeholders in the healthcare organization include nighttime duties. Khan et al. (2015) argue that communication is necessary is necessary at such time to ensure appropriate and maximum care is administered to the patient.
Conversely, Matziou et al. (2014) investigate the nurses and physician’s perceptions regarding collaboration and communication. The study involved investigation of the nurses and physicians through administering of self-administered questionnaire. The perception of the nurses on these factors was seen to be highly influenced by age, years of experience, sex and size of the clinic. The study suggests that doctors and nurses do not share the same views with regards to communication in decision-making process during patients’ care. Moreover, the authors argue that lack of collaboration and good communication can lead to high possibility of omissions and errors (Matziou et al., 2014). Therefore, nurses and doctors should acknowledge effective communication to implement good inter-professional and teamwork. The study concludes that the nurses should embrace inter-professional collaboration culture to constantly consolidate their roles in patients’ care (Matziou et al., 2014).
A study Lancaster et al. (2015) explores the interdisciplinary relationship between, physicians, nurses and the unlicensed assistive personnel. The findings of the research are that the doctors and the nurses operate as separate health care professionals in the organizations. In most of the cases, they barely talk to each other. As such, the doctors see themselves as the primary decision makers in the patient care. The study finds that it is necessary for the doctor and the patient to engage in meaningful discussions that can help come up with meaningful decision-making in treating the patients (Lancaster et al., 2015). Since the doctors and the nurses are involved in providing care to the patients, it is vital for coordination between the two parties to ensure all the treatment portions are conducted effectively. Moreover, good relationship and communication are necessary for the overall prevention of errors and fragmentation in delivering the health care services. Among the mentioned factors in the study that contribute to interference in communication and relationship between the doctors and the nurses include misunderstandings, tensions, conflicts and differences in opinions (Lancaster et al., 2015). The study concludes that improved patient care can only be achieved through addressing the health care delivery based on the doctors and nurses coordination. In essence, communication and collaboration are the only factors that can enhance the patients’ safety.
A study by Khan et al. (2015) explores the role of good relationship and communication between the nurses, doctors, and parents at night. The study aimed at examining the relationship between health care providers on duty at night (physicians and nurses) and the relationship with the patients and the parents of the patients. A survey was conducted on pediatric inpatients where the parents were examined on their overall experience on quality of both the doctors and nurses at night time. High scores were noted in the overall experience with night time nurses which was 70.5% agreement which was based on the concerns of the parents being listened to by the nurses. The doctors’ score was 31.4% hence depicting lack of good collaboration (Khan et al., 2015). However, low scores were noted on the overall communication and relationship between the physicians and the nurses. To improve patient-centeredness of care, it is necessary to improve nighttime communication and ensure teamwork which is established through good relationship (Khan et al., 2015).
Drawing Connections
Culture and health care provision vary from one country to another, but the principal objective of health care remains unchanged (Rice et al., 2010). Lack of good relationship between the nurses and the doctors is mostly characterized by the nurses complaining about the doctors’ authority over them. Nurse-doctor relationship is mostly strained by lack of good coordination and failure to communicate. Nursing and medicine are essential in the treatment of the patients and providing the needed care. The two are inseparable hence they should be highly upheld. Inter-professional communication and relationship between the doctors and the nurses should be safeguarded since effective nurse-doctor relationship is positively related (Matziou et al., 2014). Good health care quality, patient safety, and better health care provision can only be upheld through good communication and relationship between the doctors and the nurses.
The authors of the earlier discussed studies support the professional issue based on the studies that gave results that showed good communication was essential in the medical domain. Based on the healthcare focus, ethics are essential in providing quality care and minimizing harm (Rice et al., 2010). One of the medical malpractice that can result from lack of ethics in the professional issue being discussed includes medical negligence. This may arise as a result of poor communication between the nurse and the doctor. Lack of good communication which can lead to the medical malpractice can lead to cancellation of the medical practice license if carried on consistently (Rosenstein, 2015). Moreover, a strained relationship between the nurses and doctors results with reduced moral and lead to job dissatisfaction.
Relevance to Healthcare Delivery
Doctors have more responsibility concerning the patients’ treatment while nurses are more responsible in taking care of the patient (Fagin & Garelick, 2014). Therefore, there should be an interrelation between the nurses and doctors that will ensure appropriate health care is maintained. All the related stakeholders in health care service delivery have different roles to play which the healthcare organization cannot function well without. Doctors are essential in holding important decisions such as whether the patient should be admitted or discharged. On the other hand, nurses play the role of delivering heath care as recommended by the doctor and communicating patients’ progress (Fagin & Garelick, 2014). Therefore, lack of good communication and relationship in health care organizations can lead to hindrance in the activities within the organization where patient care is not properly overseen.
Theoretical Foundations
The “Need Theory” advocated by Virginia Henderson emphasizes the importance of increasing the patient’s independence during the healing process (Blais, 2015). This can be achieved by utilizing the assistance of both the doctors and the nurses. Nurses have a role to play in assisting individuals and doctors rely on nurses to execute the medical procedure. The theory points out the interdependence between the involved groups. Fagin and Garelick (2014) point out other practices such as constant flow of information, medical updates and keeping of records is only guaranteed with good nurse-doctor relations.
Concluding Reflection
The nurses work environment affect the experience of the patients in hospital in ways such as medication regulation, keeping records and ensuring patients benefit from best services (Kieft, 2014). Based on Orem’s Self-Care Theory the nurse-doctor relations determine how the operations are conducted within the health care organization. By applying the Need Theory, I will be in a position of enhancing my passion and skills for serving many people and improving my service delivery. This issue would help in improved service delivery and ensure that the patients are well cared for. Similarly, the issue is of essence in improving both the living standards of the community and the patients.
References
Fagin, L., & Garelick, A. (2014). The doctor – nurse relationship. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment, 10(3), 277–286. https://doi.org/10.1192/apt.10.4.277
Khan, A., Rogers, J. E., Melvin, P., Furtak, S. L., Faboyede, G. M., Schuster, M. A., & Landrigan, C. P. (2015). Physician and nurse nighttime communication and parents’ hospital experience. Pediatrics, peds-2015, 136(5), 2-10.
Kieft, R. A., de Brouwer, B. B., Francke, A. L., & Delnoij, D. M. (2014). How nurses and their work environment affect patient experiences of the quality of care: a qualitative study. BMC health services research, 14(1), 249-256.
Lancaster, G., Kolakowsky‐Hayner, S., Kovacich, J., & Greer‐Williams, N. (2015). Interdisciplinary communication and collaboration among physicians, nurses, and unlicensed assistive personnel. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(3), 275-284.
Matziou, V., Vlahioti, E., Perdikaris, P., Matziou, T., Megapanou, E., & Petsios, K. (2014). Physician and nursing perceptions concerning interprofessional communication and collaboration. Journal of interprofessional care, 28(6), 526-533.
Rice, K., Zwarenstein, M., Conn, L. G., Kenaszchuk, C., Russell, A. N. N., & Reeves, S. (2010). An intervention to improve inter-professional collaboration and communications: A comparative qualitative study. Journal of Inter-professional-Care, 24(4), 350–361. https://doi.org/10.3109/13561820903550713
Rosenstein, A. (2015). Original research: Nurse-physician relationship: Impact on nurse satisfaction and retention. American Journal of Nursing, 10(6), 26-34.
Zwarentein, M., & Reeves, S. (2002). Working together but apart : Barriers and routes to nurse – physician collaboration. Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 28(5), pp. 42–247.
