Karsh Visiting Professor Discusses Inter-professional Learning
Evidence suggests that teamwork and good communication in the medical setting lead to better patient outcomes and a better working environment. But how early should learning about teamwork begin for nurses and physicians who will work together so closely to care for patients?
The research of Terry Fulmer, PhD, RN, FAAN, dean and Erline Perkins McGriff Professor at New York University College of Nursing, suggests that learning to work as a team with interdisciplinary colleagues must begin as early as nursing and medical school. Fulmer brought her research on inter-disciplinary training and collaboration among care providers to BWH as this year’s Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Visiting Professor in Nursing.
Each year, the Estrellita and Yousuf Karsh Visiting Professorship in Nursing sponsors a national nursing scholar to spend one or two days at BWH to share clinical wisdom and research while engaging with clinical nurses on patient care units.
During her visit in May, Fulmer presented on her project “NYU 3T: Teaching, Technology, Teamwork” before a packed Bornstein Amphitheater. She began this project at New York University early this year to teach inter-professional collaboration and teamwork between nursing and medical students well before they are exposed to real patient care environments.
“Teamwork is not intuitive,” Fulmer explained. “Nurses and physicians learn to appreciate the unique value that working together brings.”
During a two-semester period, Fulmer’s project provides NYU nursing students with training on:
During the second semester, nursing students practice a “clinical crossover,” where they interact with medical students and care for patients together using real-time simulation exercises and virtual patients.
“We believe that this training allows some unique opportunities that will better prepare our next generation of nurses,” said Fulmer, who added that the project expects to enroll about 1,000 NYU nursing students during the next three years.
Also, as part of the presentation, two BWH interdisciplinary groups shared their experiences.
Angela Hauber, physical therapist in Rehabilitation Services, and Anthony Massaro, MD, MICU director, discussed their collaboration to ensure MICU patients receive proper physical therapy screening and follow up.
Miriam Greenspan, MSN, RN, nursing director of Simulation in the Center for Nursing Excellence, and Charles Pozner, MD, medical director of The Neil and Elise Wallace STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation, presented their work on a pilot program that is improving patient safety and outcomes in the Operating Room.