Five Ways of Establishing Better Nurse-Doctor Relationships

Unlike old times, a nurse or a doctor is no longer responsible for a patient’s health. This change is the growth of the aging population experiencing multiple illnesses and the complexity of the diseases that require specialized care.

 

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A multidisciplinary approach is necessary for patients’ well-being and progressive treatment outcomes.

Every healthcare provider is well aware of their role in providing quality care to patients; however, teamwork plays a significant role.

Collaborating with other healthcare professionals such as doctors makes a notable difference in the patient’s health with the help of expertise every care provider shares.

When doctors and nurses coordinate care as a team, it reduces the level of stress patients experience, and most significantly, it also reduces the possibility of burnout in nurses.

As a team making well-informed decisions regarding a patient’s well-being also prevents the risk of medical errors.

It may seem that teamwork presents less of a challenge than working independently, but that is not the case. Although the nurse/doctor relationship is vital in the healthcare setup, it can be tricky for both parties to navigate it.

Understanding, empathy, and respect are the two most critical factors of the doctor/nurse relationship.  

Since solving complex medical issues is less complicated when every healthcare provider is on board.

An advanced degree like an online masters degree in nursing will instill valuable knowledge required to ensure quality care and enable nurses to share input with other healthcare team members in establishing a treatment plan. 

Without cooperation from both ends, the consequences can impact the work environment and the patient’s health. So how exactly can a healthy relationship between a nurse and physician be established?

Let’s take a look

1. Communication

Due to power imbalance, the conflict between doctors and nurses is high. Having good communication skills is essential in teamwork to achieve goals.

Physicians and nurses should both work on creating an effective dialogue of communication. From a doctor’s perspective, they must take time to understand the role and work of nurses in treating patients.  

Nurses have more insight into patient care since they are the primary care providers on their road to recovery. Asking questions regarding patient health will benefit in modifying the plan of care.

Nurses can improve communication with physicians by sharing to-the-point information. This will help avoid confusion and misinterpretation when discussing patient data.

To eliminate the communication barrier, nurses can familiarize themselves with co-workers’ preferences. Being upfront helps understand the expectations and contributes towards creating a steady flow of work.  

2. Be a Team Leader

Developing a strong team can be challenging, but that does not mean you do not make an effort to ensure that a patient’s health is not compromised.

Patient care is the primary goal of both the doctor and nurse. Being a nurse, enforcing your role as a team leader is essential. It is more likely to make you appear more approachable and help bridge the gap with doctors.

Being a team leader also means being upfront about the goals you want to achieve. A team leader is someone flexible and willing to learn from others.

To establish yourself as a valuable team member, you must interact with others and ask about your responsibilities rather than assume them.

Leadership qualities in a nurse are also determined by how they are not afraid to speak up when necessary professionally.

3. Be Kind

Working as a team can indeed take a toll, especially if nobody is willing to take the first step in resolving any issues that might come along.

Kindness is more than just a band-Aid for medical care; it is a critical element of patient care. Kindness, empathy, and compassion play a huge role in the healthcare industry. These emotions are central to the everyday work of especially a nurse.

Working as a team does not mean you only have to get the job done. The foundation of a strong team is more than having the ability to treat patients.

It’s about understanding and helping each other lift up when feeling stressed or burned out. The nursing field is about being a people person, which means understanding co-workers’ needs and showing compassion or kindness that goes a long way.

Quality care can only be ensured if both the nurse and physician are willing to work together. Working through each other’s emotions will strengthen the bond of teamwork.

4. Set Boundaries

Boundaries establish how every team member wants to be treated at a workplace. One of the benefits of setting boundaries as a nurse is protecting your physical and mental energy from draining.

While it might come off as unapproachable or incompetent, setting boundaries prevents the risk of unnecessary workload or burnout, which can adversely impact patient care. 

Without establishing a firm ground will give others the benefit to reinforce their decisions and command on you.

You have a duty towards the patient and workplace, but that does not mean compromising your well-being along the way.

One effective way of creating boundaries is using a simple language of what you think is wrong and how to work on it.

Offering your insight establishes that your role is just as important as a doctor’s role in ensuring a patient’s well-being.

5. Respect

Although good communication is the pillar of a team, one of the crucial aspects of maintaining this pillar is respect.

Without respect, a team can never strive efficiently to reach its goal. Undoubtedly spending an ample amount of time caring for patients does provide more benefit, but as a nurse, you must learn to respect the expertise of physicians.  

The lack of respect within the team undermines the relationship between the doctor and nurse. It eventually reflects poorly upon the quality of care delivered and impacts the workplace environment.

Respect is an essential component of a healthcare organization that ensures a healthy environment for patient care and promotes teamwork. It establishes a sense of commitment to service among healthcare providers.

Conclusion

It is unlikely that doctors and nurses will always get along even though both belong to the healthcare industry and have one goal; to ensure quality patient care.

However, with time both nurses and physicians have realized how crucial it is to overcome issues and improve patient well-being.

While every healthcare provider is well aware of their role and is dedicated to promoting patient health, working as a team reduces the risk of mishaps that are more likely to occur when working independently.

Working together ensures that every procedure or task is conducted smoothly and timely.