AJN, American Journal of Nursing:
Ann Fleming Beach's tribute to her mother's nursing career extends well beyond her words (“A Smart Doctor Listens to the Nurses,” Reflections, April). By modeling collaborative behaviors and teaching future health care providers the importance of interprofessional communication, Dr. Beach is positively impacting the quality of patient care today and tomorrow.
Multidisciplinary rounding results in better communication and collaboration.1 I hope Dr. Beach will consider a more formal approach to multidisciplinary rounding, including nurses and other health care professionals in daily rounds, so they all hear her “spiel.” The resulting potential for improvements in patient quality of care would certainly be a lasting tribute to her mother.
Janice Hawkins, MSN, RN
1. Vazirani S, et al. Effect of a multi-disciplinary intervention on communication and collaboration among physicians and nurses Am J Crit Care. 2005;14(1):71–7
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