Discussion 6.1 - Collaborative Practice
Does a collaborative agreement ensure collaborative practice? Why or why not? Cite some evidence.
A collaborative agreement does not necessarily ensure collaborative practice, unfortunately. For example, nurse practitioners can enter into a collaborative practice agreement with a physician to allow for the NP to practice in a clinic setting of their own; essentially an independent NP small business. Depending on area of practice, the clinicans entering into a collaborative agreement with one another will need to abide by the state and contractual agreement regulation standards. Collaborative practice agreements vary widely from state to state. In some states, nurse practitioners need a written agreement with a physician to diagnose, treat, and prescribe. In other states, physician collaboration is only needed for NPs to prescribe. Some states do not require collaborative practice agreements at all (Latner, XXXXXXXXXXBased on Latner’s case review in the Legal Advisor, any practitioner initiating a collaborative practice agreement with another clinician, must comply with the conditional requirements of the contract, first and most importantly, for patient safety, protection of one’s own medical license, reputation with medical colleagues and with your community. If non-compliance of laws and contractual guidelines are at stake, clinicans can face serious consequences like loss of medical licensure to practice combined with substantial financial loss due to court fees depending on the severity of the situation at hand.
What are some examples in the literature of good collaborative practice? Why are they exemplary?
There are various examples in the literature assigned this week that elaborate on good collaborative practice that provided robust explanations and examples of what clinicians should seek and desire when looking to collaborate with other clinicansfor best outcomes.Tracy & O’Grady (2019, p. 292) outline certain characteristics that are found within successful collaborative practices which are clinical competence and accountability, common purpose, interpersonal competence and effective communication, trust, mutual respect, recognition and valuing of diverse, complementary knowledge and skills, lastly, humor. These characteristics developed positive consequences that improved quality of care, increased patient satisfaction, lowered mortality rates, allowed patients to feel more secure while empowering patients and family members to become team members. Alongside positive patient outcomes, successful collaboration also spurred very positive provider benefits alike such as improved communication, increased sharing of responsibilities, mutual satisfying problem solving, increased personal satisfaction, empowerment to influence health policy and many more (Tracy & O’Grady, 2019, p. 296).
XXXXXXXXXXReferences
Joel, L. (2018).Advanced practice nursing: Essentials for role development(4th ed.). F. A.
Davis Company. ISBN-13: XXXXXXXXXX.
Latner, A. W XXXXXXXXXXCollaborative Practice Agreements.The Clinical Advisor, 70-72.
Tracy, M. F., & O'Grady, E. T. (2019).Advanced Practice Nursing: An Integrative
Approach(6th ed.). Elsevier Health Sciences. ISBN: XXXXXXXXXX.