Evaluating Interaction Quality Between Medical Students and Nurses
Author Information
Author(s): Nadolski Gregory J, Bell Mary A, Brewer Barbara B, Frankel Richard M, Cushing Herbert E, Brokaw James J
Primary Institution: Indiana University School of Medicine
Hypothesis
How well do medical students and nurses interact during clinical rotations?
Conclusion
Medical students and nurses have poor interactions during clinical rotations, which may hinder effective collaboration.
Supporting Evidence
- Medical students rated their interactions with nurses significantly lower than with residents.
- Nurses reported higher relational coordination scores with other nurses than with medical students.
- Medical students experienced higher interpersonal sensitivity compared to nurses.
Takeaway
Medical students and nurses don't work well together, which can make it harder for them to help patients.
Methodology
Surveys were conducted with 268 medical students and 175 nurses to assess their interactions and psychological distress.
Potential Biases
The low response rate may indicate that students do not see the relevance of nurses to their training.
Limitations
Low response rate from medical students (25.4%) and potential recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Medical students were predominantly white (89.7%) and 51.5% female; nurses were predominantly white (93.9%) and 98.0% female.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Statistical Significance
p<0.01
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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