A novel nurse-inteRN mentorship program to improve nurse-physician communication and teamwork in the emergency department
Dublin Core
Title
A novel nurse-inteRN mentorship program to improve nurse-physician communication and teamwork in the emergency department
Subject
Communication, Education, Interdisciplinary, Collaboration, Mentorship
Description
Abstract
Background Communication between nurses and physicians is essential to providing patient care in the emergency
department. The American College of Graduate Medical Education includes interpersonal and communication
skills as one of six core competencies for residents. There is a known correlation between poor communication
and negative patient outcomes. Yet, formalized training programs in doctor-nurse communication are lacking and
literature reports that physicians may view collaboration as less important than nurses. To address this gap, we
developed and implemented a novel, pilot “Nurse-InteRN Mentorship Program”. The program aimed to improve
trainees’ communication with nurses and enhance emergency department collaboration. We then evaluated the
impact of this program on participant perception of nurse-physician communication, efficacy and overall benefit.
Methods We used Kern’s Six-step approach to develop and implement this program. We then evaluated the
program’s impact with a pre-program and post-program 12-question survey to evaluate participation, perceived
benefit, and efficacy of the program using a 1–5 Likert scale. Nurse vs. intern responses were compared using Fisher’s
exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Pre- and post- intervention responses were paired by respondent and compared
using marginal homogeneity tests.
Results 13 interns and 22 nurses participated in the program. All 13 interns and 19 of 22 nurses completed the pre-
program survey. 10 of 13 interns and 11 of 22 nurse mentors completed the post-program survey. Nurses showed
greater interest in providing feedback on communication skills than interns showed in receiving feedback (p<0.001).
Interns rated themselves higher in communication skills with patients than nurses rated them (p=0.004). Perceived
benefit among nurses and interns decreased after completion of the program.
Conclusion We were able to successfully implement a one-year nurse-intern mentorship program aiming to
promote communication, collaboration and professional development. Our results show differing attitudes between
nurses and interns around interns’ communication skills. There was some perceived benefit, but unfortunately this
decreased over the course of the program. Further studies are needed to determine how this program impacts
communication, teamwork, and patient care. We hope that given the novelty of such a nurse-intern mentorship
program, this study may serve as a pilot for future programs.
Background Communication between nurses and physicians is essential to providing patient care in the emergency
department. The American College of Graduate Medical Education includes interpersonal and communication
skills as one of six core competencies for residents. There is a known correlation between poor communication
and negative patient outcomes. Yet, formalized training programs in doctor-nurse communication are lacking and
literature reports that physicians may view collaboration as less important than nurses. To address this gap, we
developed and implemented a novel, pilot “Nurse-InteRN Mentorship Program”. The program aimed to improve
trainees’ communication with nurses and enhance emergency department collaboration. We then evaluated the
impact of this program on participant perception of nurse-physician communication, efficacy and overall benefit.
Methods We used Kern’s Six-step approach to develop and implement this program. We then evaluated the
program’s impact with a pre-program and post-program 12-question survey to evaluate participation, perceived
benefit, and efficacy of the program using a 1–5 Likert scale. Nurse vs. intern responses were compared using Fisher’s
exact and Wilcoxon rank sum tests. Pre- and post- intervention responses were paired by respondent and compared
using marginal homogeneity tests.
Results 13 interns and 22 nurses participated in the program. All 13 interns and 19 of 22 nurses completed the pre-
program survey. 10 of 13 interns and 11 of 22 nurse mentors completed the post-program survey. Nurses showed
greater interest in providing feedback on communication skills than interns showed in receiving feedback (p<0.001).
Interns rated themselves higher in communication skills with patients than nurses rated them (p=0.004). Perceived
benefit among nurses and interns decreased after completion of the program.
Conclusion We were able to successfully implement a one-year nurse-intern mentorship program aiming to
promote communication, collaboration and professional development. Our results show differing attitudes between
nurses and interns around interns’ communication skills. There was some perceived benefit, but unfortunately this
decreased over the course of the program. Further studies are needed to determine how this program impacts
communication, teamwork, and patient care. We hope that given the novelty of such a nurse-intern mentorship
program, this study may serve as a pilot for future programs.
Creator
Amanda Doodlesack1*, Nicole Dubosh1
, Anne Grossestreuer1
, Lorian de Oliveira2
and Leslie Bilello1
, Anne Grossestreuer1
, Lorian de Oliveira2
and Leslie Bilello1
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00740-z
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
PDF
Language
ENGLISH
Type
TEXT
Files
Collection
Citation
Amanda Doodlesack1*, Nicole Dubosh1
, Anne Grossestreuer1
, Lorian de Oliveira2
and Leslie Bilello1, “A novel nurse-inteRN mentorship program to improve nurse-physician communication and teamwork in the emergency department,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 25, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12501.