Blog: INTRA- AND INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION

Imagine that you are a DNP-prepared nurse responsible for overseeing a large intensive care unit (ICU). You have noticed that in the past three months, the number of nosocomial, or hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), has dramatically increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. You would like to initiate a practice study to determine the source of these HAIs and to improve patient outcomes in your ICU. 

What types of intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration might be needed to support the goals of this practice study?  One example of  intra-disciplinary collaboration is that you might meet with the nursing manager in charge of your unit and ask to set up a brainstorming session with the nurses on the unit to explore their perceptions of why the HAIs have increased among patients who have undergone cardiovascular procedures. An example of  interdisciplinary collaboration is that you might team up with an infection prevention specialist (who may be a PhD-prepared nurse or PhD-credentialed healthcare professional) who can address the problem from an alternative perspective. These are just two of many potential intra- and interprofessional collaborations that may take place in an advanced nursing practice situation like this. Keep in mind that when intra- and interprofessional colleagues work together toward a shared, patient-centric goal, both the quality and cost of the care delivered will be optimized (Johnson & Johnson, 2016).  Reference:  Johnson & Johnson. (2023, September 10).  Nursing:  The importance of interprofessional collaboration in healthcare. https://nursing.jnj.com/getting-real-nursing-today/the-importance-of-interprofessional-collaboration-in-healthcare 

To prepare:

· Review this week’s Learning Resources, paying special attention to the various strategies mentioned to foster intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration in nursing practice.

· Reflect on your own previous professional experiences with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.

· Consider the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.

· Choose  one specific challenge you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues overcame it.

· Choose  one specific opportunity you faced and reflect on how you and your colleagues embraced it.

By Day 3 of Week 6

Address the following in your Blog entry:

· Describe  one relevant professional experience you have had with intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.

· Describe the various intra- and interprofessional individuals and groups with whom you worked and the ways in which you interacted.

· Describe  one specific challenge you faced and explain how you and your colleagues overcame it. Be specific.

· Describe  one opportunity you faced and explain how you and your colleagues embraced it. Be specific.