Physician-nurse relationships

Abstract

Disagreement between physicians and nurses regarding patient care is not always a negative factor and often serves to protect patients. How disagreement is handled, however, and whether it is adequately resolved may adversely affect patient care. Physicians and nurses were questioned regarding the nature of their relationship, areas of disagreement related to patient care, and how disagreement gets resolved. Seventy percent of the physicians and 69% of the nurses described relationships as mostly positive. Disagreements were categorized into four areas, with the greatest number relating to the patient's general plan of care. Resolutions of these disagreements were described by 65% of physician and 53% of nurse as competitive in nature. Few examples of joint problem-solving (collaboration) were seen.