Creating Improved Communication Between Nursing and Physicians
Importance of Collaboration within a Hospital System
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31686/ijier.vol3.iss11.471Abstract
Background: Optimal communication between all members of the healthcare team is important to ensure safe and efficient patient care.
Objective: To improve communication between nurses and resident physicians by developing and implementing a paging protocol.
Methods: A resident-led workgroup was assembled to identify opportunities for improving communication. A survey was designed to assess current practices and perceptions related to resident and nurse communication. A facilitated focus group of residents and nurses met on two separate occasions to review the survey results and develop a set of mutually agreeable paging guidelines. The group chose to adopt the ISBARR communication tool and planned educational interventions accordingly. Residents and nurses were resurveyed roughly three months’ post-intervention.
Results: The results indicated a 12.8% reduction (p=0.017) in the percentage of nurse respondents that “never” inquire whether or not another nurse on the unit needs to speak with the same physician prior to paging. A 10.3% increase (p=0.033) in resident respondents that “usually” receive grouped pages, and an 11% reduction (p=0.042) in the percentage of resident respondents that “never: receive grouped pages. However, only 53.3% (n=60) of nurse respondents and 44.1% (n=68) of resident respondents felt their ISBARR training was adequate. Moreover, only 38.4% and 30.9% of nurse and resident respondents, respectively felt the paging guidelines and ISBARR had improved overall communications between the two groups.
Conclusions: While the follow-up survey results revealed some improvements in paging practices, the need for continued education was clear.
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Copyright (c) 2015 Katie S Murray, Scott Mullen, Bardia Behravesh, Michael Brimacombe, Elizabeth Carlton, Lori Roop, Greg Unruh
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