The nurse-physician collaboration: a survey among Internal Medical Units in Liguria region

The nurse-physician relationship is undergoing profound changes after the introduction of the degree in nursing sciences. We conducted a survey among 18 Internal Medicine Units in Liguria region to investigate the real picture of this collaboration, using the Jefferson collaboration scale (JCS) and the nurse-physician collaboration scale (NPCS). We sent anonymous questionnaires to 580 nurses and 180 physicians of whom over 50% responded. Of 15 items of JCS and 27 of NPCS, 9 (60%) and 13 (48.1%) did not show different opinions between nurses and physicians, respectively. However, significant differences were observed on several items, including the caring process, the nurse autonomy, the physician authority and the human relationship. On the question: The primary function of the nurse is to carry out the physician’s orders, 23% of the nurses and 33% of physicians agreed, whereas only 46% of the nurses and 22% of the physicians strongly disagreed (P<0.001). Our study demonstrates the desire of nurses and physicians to cooperate, although some differences are still evident and require plans of improvement.