Nurse-nurse collaboration and performance among nurses in intensive care units

Abstract

Background: An essential element for offering high-quality care in the intensive care units (ICUs) is the intraprofessional collaboration among nurses, which facilitates the exchange of knowledge and information and hence improves performance. More research is needed to understand the relationship between the nurse-nurse collaboration and job performance in the ICUs due to the multidimensionality of both concepts, the complexity of the ICU environment, and the lack of studies.

Aim: To examine the relationship between nurse-nurse collaboration and self-perceived nurse performance among Jordanian nurses in ICUs.

Design: Descriptive, correlational cross-sectional design was used.

Methods: Data were collected through an online survey including the demographic questionnaire, the nurse-nurse collaboration scale, and six-dimensions scale for nursing performance.

Results: In total, 155 critical care nurses participated (response rate = 46.97%). Self-perceived job performance was significantly associated with gender (t = -3.189, P = .002), age (r = -0.301, P < .01), workplace (F = 28.20, P = .001), the type of ICU (F = 17.70, P = .001), and the number of assigned patients (r = 0.407, P < .01). Among all nurse-nurse collaboration subscales, only the conflict management subscale was an independent significant predictor of self-perceived nursing performance (t = 3.06, B = 3.066, P = .003).

Conclusions: Effective conflict management is associated with better nurse performance, which could ultimately improve patient care in ICUs.

Relevance to clinical practice: Conflict resolution is an important dimension of optimal nurse-nurse collaboration and has an important effect on nursing performance. Nurses and nurse managers in ICUs need to attend workshops and training programs in conflict management.

Keywords: conflict management; coordination; intensive care unit; nurse-nurse collaboration; nursing performance.