SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Project Create: Physician & Nursing Collaboration and Mentorship

Pdf Summary

Project CREATE was a yearlong quality improvement initiative designed to strengthen physician-nurse teamwork through monthly problem-based learning sessions. Twelve volunteer hospital medicine faculty physicians and 48 nurses participated. Sessions lasted 30–60 minutes and focused initially on common clinical topics such as diabetes, sepsis, and congestive heart failure, then broadened to additional topics over time.<br /><br />The program addressed a known gap in mutual understanding between physicians and nurses, especially around workflows, communication, and daily clinical concerns. Because nurse-physician relationships strongly affect morale, engagement, burnout, recruitment, retention, and patient safety, the intervention aimed to improve both workplace culture and clinical collaboration.<br /><br />Outcomes were measured using an 18-question clinical pre-test and post-test, along with a culture survey covering five domains: interprofessional communication, trust, physician-nurse relationship, critical thinking, and engagement. Results showed improved interprofessional relationships, better mutual understanding of roles and workflows, and stronger clinical communication. Nurses reported feeling more empowered, with greater clinical knowledge and increased comfort raising concerns with physicians. Specific survey results showed improved direct communication about patient status, better anticipation of each other’s concerns, and improved physician understanding of nursing workflows.<br /><br />Overall, the project suggests that small-group, ongoing educational sessions can meaningfully improve collaboration between physicians and nurses. Future efforts will focus on engaging newer physicians and nurses early in their careers and evaluating effects on psychological safety, quality, and patient safety outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Vivek Patel

Meta Tag

Author List Anita Hegde, Corey Manges, Eugene S. Chu, Hina N. Mehta, January Baclig, L Steven Steven Brown, Madeline Michalopulos, Mary Adame, Preetha Nair, Rozina Suteria, Sudha Somasundaravelayudham, Teresa Taylor, Thanh Tran, Vidushi Golla, Vivek Patel

Category Innovations

Concept Physician-Nurse Teamwork

Concept Project CREATE

Concept Patient Safety

Concept Problem-Based Learning

Concept Communication

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UT Southwestern

Presenting Author Vivek Patel

Track Communication

Keywords

physician-nurse teamwork

quality improvement

problem-based learning

interprofessional communication

hospital medicine

clinical collaboration

nurse empowerment

workflow understanding

patient safety

culture survey

Physician-Nurse Teamwork

Project CREATE

Patient Safety

Problem-Based Learning

Communication