Strengthening Nurse-Physician Relationships: A Guide to Effective Communication

Description:

Guide and empower nurses to develop effective nurse-physician relationships—relationships that foster patient safety and mutual respect. Offers strategies to avoid disconnects and animosity. Filled with field-tested, how to strategies, tips, and advice, nurses will learn how to take control of negative situations and be a true advocate for their patient.

Objectives:

• Understand why some physicians behave negatively
• Know their role in the negative cycle that keeps nurses and physicians at odds
• Recognize communication techniques to prevent or stop bad behavior from occurring, such as using the SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) tool to empower nurses to state their needs and opinions
• Implement strategies to turn common communication problems like disagreements over discharge orders into opportunities
• Diffuse highly emotional situations
• Take the right steps to achieve mutual respect
• Implement strategies to turn common communication breakdowns into opportunities
• Confront physician counterparts effectively and professionally
• Understand the nurse manager's role in fostering healthy nurse-physician communication and relationships
• Create collaborative working relationships and a safe environment for patient care

(HCPro)