Predictive Factors of Advanced Practice Nurse-Physician Collaboration in Patient Care

Advanced practice nurse-physician collaboration in patient care results in positive outcomes for patients, nursing practice, and health organizations. However, limited data exists regarding this collaboration. The purpose of this predictive correlational study was to examine factors which can predict advanced practice nurse-physician collaboration in patient care. The hypothesized predictors were attitudes toward advanced practice nurse-physician collaboration in patient care, self-esteem, commitment to nursing practice, and working environment in patient care. Two hundred and twenty-four advanced practice nurses participated and were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using five instruments: 1) the Jefferson Scale of Attitudes toward Physician-Nurse Collaboration 2) the Collective Self-Esteem Scale 3) the Nursing Practice Commitment Scale 4) the Working Environment Scale and 5) the Collaborative Practice Scale. Pearson's product moment correlation and stepwise multiple regression were used to analyze data. Results revealed that the commitment of advanced practice nurses to nursing practice and working environment in patient care together explained 21.10% of the variance in collaboration. The results are useful for senior nurses and advanced practice nurses in the development of effective interventions or strategies for promoting this collaboration in patient care.