Imagine that you are a DNP-prepared nurse responsible for overseeing a large intensive care unit (ICU)

You have noticed that in the past three months, the number of nosocomial, or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), has dramatically increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. You would like to initiate a practice study to determine the source of these HAIs and to improve patient outcomes in your ICU.

What types of intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration might be needed to support the goals of this practice study?

One example of intra-disciplinary collaboration is that you might meet with the nursing manager in charge of your unit and ask to set up a brainstorming session with the nurses on the unit to explore their perceptions of why the HAIs have increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. An example of interdisciplinary collaboration is that you might team up with an infection prevention specialist (who may be a PhD-prepared nurse or PhD-credentialed healthcare professional) who can address the problem from an alternative perspective. These are just two of many potential intra- and interprofessional collaborations that may take place in an advanced nursing practice situation like this. Keep in mind that when intra- and interprofessional colleagues work together toward a shared, patient-centric goal, both the quality and cost of the care delivered will be optimized (Johnson & Johnson, 2016). Reference: Johnson & Johnson. (2023, September 10). Nursing: The importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. https://nursing.jnj.com/getting-real-nursing-today/the-importance-of-interprofessional-collaboration-in-healthcare

Resources

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity. Click the weekly resources link to access the resources.

WEEKLY RESOURCES

· Document: Nursing Communities of Practice Template Download Nursing Communities of Practice Template(PDF)

· Africa, L., Frantz, J. M., & Mlenzana, N. B. (2023). Activities to promote interprofessional practice at primary healthcare level: A systematic reviewLinks to an external site.. Social and Health Sciences, Article 12130. https://doi.org/10.25159/2957-3645/12130

· American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2021). The essentials: Core competencies for professional nursing educationLinks to an external site. . https://www.aacnnursing.org/Portals/0/PDFs/Publications/Essentials-2021.pdf

· American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (n.d.). T he essentials: Domain 6: Interprofessional partnershipsLinks to an external site. . https://www.aacnnursing.org/essentials/tool-kit/domains-concepts/interprofessional-partnerships

· Bradley, C., & Bleich, M. (2024). The DNP graduate and the potential to advance nursing: An interview with thought leader Michael Bleich, PhD, RN, FAAN, by Carol Bradley, MSN, RN, FAONLLinks to an external site.. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 48(1), 80–82. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000621

· Interprofessional Education Collaborative. (2023, November 20).  IPEC core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice: Version 3Links to an external site. . https://ipec.memberclicks.net/assets/core-competencies/IPEC_Core_Competencies_Version_3_2023.pdf

· Healthy People 2030. (n.d.). Healthy people in actionLinks to an external site. . https://health.gov/healthypeople/tools-action/healthy-people-in-action

· Ho, J. T., See, M. T. A., Tan, A. J. Q., Levett-Jones, T., Lau, T. C., Zhou, W., & Liaw, S. Y. (2023). Healthcare professionals’ experiences of interprofessional collaboration in patient education: A systematic reviewLinks to an external site..  Patient Education and Counseling, 113, Article 107965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107965

· King, R. J., Heisey-Grove, D. M., Garrett, N., Scott, K. A., Daley, M. F., Haemer, M. A., Podila, P., Block, J. P., Carton, T., Gregorowicz, A. J., Mork, K. P., Porter, R. M., Chudnov, D. L., Jellison, J., Kraus, E. M., Harrison, M. R., Sucosky, M. S., Armstrong, S., & Goodman, A. B. (2022). The childhood obesity data initiative: A case study in implementing clinical-community infrastructure enhancements to support health services research and public healthLinks to an external site..  Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 28(2), E430–E440. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHH.0000000000001419

· McLaney, E., Morassaei, S., Hughes, L., Davies, R., Campbell, M., & Di Prospero, L. (2022). A framework for interprofessional team collaboration in a hospital setting: Advancing team competencies and behavioursLinks to an external site.. Healthcare Management Forum, 35(2), 112–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/08404704211063584

· Merriam, D., Wiggs, C., Provencio, R., Goldschmidt, K., Bonnett, P., Valazza, V., Brodhead, J., Scardaville, D., & Stalter, A. (2022). Concept analysis of systems thinking in the context of interprofessional practice and improved patient outcomesLinks to an external site..  Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(4), E20–E25. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000951

· O’Leary, N., Salmon, N., O’Donnell, M., Murphy, S., & Mannion, J. (2023). Interprofessional education and practice guide: Profiling readiness for practice-based IPELinks to an external site.. Journal of Interprofessional Care, 37(1), 150–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2022.2038551

· Ruebling, I., Eggenberger, T., Frost, J. S., Gazenfried, E., Greer, A., Khalili, H., Ochs, J., Ronnebaum, J., & Stein, S. M. (2023). Interprofessional collaboration: A public policy healthcare transformation call for actionLinks to an external site..  Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice, 33, Article 100675. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xjep.2023.100675

Communities of Practice Resources

· Adler, R. H., & Sickora, C. (2023). Research, practice and teaching united: Implementing AACN academic guidelines in a community based behavioral health settingLinks to an external site.. Journal of Professional Nursing, 49, 21–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.08.001

· Bekemeier, B., Kuehnert, P., Zahner, S. J., Johnson, K. H., Kaneshiro, J., & Swider, S. M. (2021). A critical gap: Advanced practice nurses focused on the public’s healthLinks to an external site.. Nursing Outlook, 69(5), 865–874. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2021.03.023

· Corbo, S. A., & Flatekval, A. M. (2022). An academic-practice partnership to provide community vaccinationsLinks to an external site.. Nursing Management, 53(3), 36–42. https://www.doi.org/10.1097/01.NUMA.0000821704.29642.ee

· Goglio, K., Crespin-Mazet, F., Simon, L., Cohendet, P., & Wenger-Trayner, E. (2023). Managing with communities for innovation, agility, and resilienceLinks to an external site.. European Management Journal, 41(4), 534–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2023.07.005

· Groff, A. (2023). Community of practice (CoP)Links to an external site.. Salem Press Encyclopedia. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=shib&db=ers&AN=90558267&site=eds-live&scope=site&custid=s6527200

· Shirey, M. R., Bruck, M., Patton, E., Bowers, D., & Watts, P. I. (2022). COVID-19 telehealth fair partnership for capacity building in primary care nursing.Links to an external site. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 46(2), 113–124. https://doi.org/10.1097/NAQ.0000000000000517

· Truax, F. N., Low, J., Mochizuki, T., Asfaha, S., Nguyen, T. N., Carson, M., Katrak, S., Shah, N., & Nguyen, D. (2022). Latent tuberculosis infection testing and treatment at a federally qualified health center in Southern California: A quality improvement projectLinks to an external site.. J ournal of Nursing Care Quality, 37(2), 155–161. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000579

· UC Davis Health School of Medicine. (n.d.). Communities of practice: A toolkitLinks to an external site.. https://health.ucdavis.edu/workforce-diversity/What_We_Do/Communities-of-Practice/COPToolkit.html

To prepare:

· Review this week’s Learning Resources, paying special attention to the various strategies mentioned to foster intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration in nursing practice.

· Reflect on your own previous professional experiences with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.

· Consider the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.

· Choose one specific challenge you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues overcame it.

· Choose one specific opportunity you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues embraced it.

Note: Be sure to review the grading rubric for this Blog so you fully understand what is expected of you. To access the rubric, click on the three dots that appear at the upper right of the Blog assignment page, then choose Show Rubric.

Address the following in your Blog entry:

· Describe one relevant professional experience you have had with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.

· Describe the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.

· Describe one specific challenge you faced and explain how you and your colleagues overcame it. Be specific.

· Describe one opportunity you faced and explain how you and your colleagues embraced it. Be specific.

Respond to this Discussion post

VHN

The essence of teamwork in delivering safe and efficient healthcare cannot be overstated. Healthcare leaders can support shared goals within their teams by facilitating dedicated spaces and times for interprofessional rounding, developing unified patient education resources, and implementing consistent documentation processes (Ho et al., 2023).

I work closely with a variety of healthcare professionals, including clinical social workers (CSWs), clinical pharmacists (CPPs), nurses, and nursing aides. In an emergency department (ED) setting, collaboration is essential. When a patient arrives in the ED, the CSW typically assesses the patient’s psychosocial background. As a nurse practitioner, I then conduct a more in-depth assessment, which involves developing a differential diagnosis, gathering family mental health history, and proposing a treatment plan with medication support. However, this assessment depends on the patient being medically cleared. For instance, if a patient arrives with alcohol-induced psychosis, I need to collaborate with the medical provider to initiate medication stabilization before continuing my assessment. This collaborative synergy, based on evidence-based practice, is critical for safe, efficient patient care. Professional partnerships that integrate interprofessional, intraprofessional, and paraprofessional efforts rely on shared core values—altruism, excellence, caring, ethics, respect, communication, and accountability—to provide team-based, patient-centered care (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2024). Additionally, we hold regular huddles to address any conflicts and develop suitable solutions for patient care.

One specific challenging situation I encountered involved a patient presenting to the ED for Suboxone, a controlled medication used for opioid use disorder. This medication, typically prescribed by an X-Waiver-certified provider, is rarely dispensed in the ED. The patient had missed their appointment at a recovery center and was facing a three-day gap without medication, risking relapse. Collaborating with the CPP, we developed a plan for the patient to visit the ED daily for their dose, effectively preventing relapse. The patient understood and agreed to this plan after thorough education.

Reflecting on opportunities we embraced, in addition to my work in the ED, I also run a private family practice with my three sons—a podiatric surgeon and two Doctors of Chiropractic Medicine. We noticed that patients undergoing lower limb amputations due to conditions like diabetes often experienced depression, struggling with mobility limitations and the loss of a limb. Recognizing this, we began referring these patients for mental health support, as well as chiropractic follow-up for pain management. This approach aligns with systemic thinking, which examines complex relationships and structures within healthcare teams to achieve a holistic understanding and optimize patient outcomes (Merriam et al., 2022). This approach has benefited both our patients and our practice.

References:

American Association of Colleges of Nursing. (2024). Domain 6: Interprofessional Partnerships. AACN Nursing Essentials.

Ho, J. T., See, M. T. A., Tan, A. J. Q., Levett-Jones, T., Lau, T. C., Zhou, W., & Liaw, S. Y. (2023). Healthcare professionals’ experiences of interprofessional collaboration in patient education: A systematic review. Patient Education and Counseling, 116(107965). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2023.107965Links to an external site.

Merriam, D., Wiggs, C., Provencio, R., Goldschmidt, K., Bonnett, P., Valazza, V., Brodhead, J., Scardaville, D., & Stalter, A. (2022). Concept Analysis of Systems Thinking in the Context of Interprofessional Practice and Improved Patient Outcomes. Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(4), E20-E25. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000951

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