Why nurse/physician relationships need improvement.
The relationship between doctors and nurses has never been straightforward. The differences of power, perspective, education, pay, status, class and perhaps above all gender have led to tribal warfare as often as peaceful coexistence. Two groups of people sharing an apparently identical goal, to serve patients, might be assumed to get along well. Although a major reconstruction is now required, sensible debate between doctors and nurses is scarce. There are complex issues, too often reduced to crude simplification because the relationship is so emotionally charged. Nurses are more assertive, educated and competent than ever before and resent continual put downs by a profession holding all the cards. Doctors are unaccustomed to being challenged and resent the apparent undervaluing of their competence, knowledge and skills by nurses. Therefore everyone is confused. In order for this situation to change both sides need to realize they are equally important regarding the care of the patient. Nurses and physicians require equal treatment. The role, gender, and type of expertise nurses and physicians have may be different but they are equally important in the care and treatment of a patient.
Nurses and physicians who work together as a team share the responsibility of a patient, which relieves stress and is a way of learning. Field studies have demonstrated that high functioning teams have been characterized as having good communication patterns, low levels of conflict, and high levels of collaboration, coordination, cooperation, and participation. To be effective, teams require clear structures that outline team objectives, roles and responsibilities of team members, mechanisms for exchanging information, and coordination mechanisms for team actives and staffing .(Teamwork in Healthcare) Expectations regarding the different professionals’ role are not very clear and most participants have little...