Interprofessional Essay
The aim of this assignment is to explore how the culture of individual professions can present barriers to interprofessional working in relation to my clinical experience. The essay will discuss professionals and define interprofessional, multidisciplinary and professional culture it will then examine issues of the effectiveness of interprofessional working in my clinical experience and discuss how professional culture can present barriers that hinder teamwork. Finally the essay will identify what changes could be made to enhance current and future practice.
Traditionally doctors, lawyers and clergymen were perceived as professionals. Nurses and social workers were not observed as professionals because they were seen to have limited knowledge, that has all changed and these days they are considered to be professionals who possess a wide body of knowledge which is usually gained from academic studies. Leathard (2003) indicates that a professional has a certain expertise that justifiably entitles them to the role of practitioner, who is bound by a code of ethics. Cook et al (2001) found that professionals highlighted trust as an important factor in facilitating open discussion and successful role negotiation, both important features of interprofessional working.
The terms interprofessional and multidisciplinary are the most commonly used words that many professionals employ in practice. Freeman et al (2000) defines interprofessional to be where a group of professionals interact with each other across boundaries for the benefit of the patient. Another term used in place of interprofessional is multidisciplinary, this term was used more frequently in the 1980’s and 90’s where as defined by (Day 2006) is a group of professionals working together with little collaboration. Both groups share a common purpose which is to contribute to patient care.
Gregson et al (1991), suggests that the terms teamwork and collaboration are both used to describe
Traditionally doctors, lawyers and clergymen were perceived as professionals. Nurses and social workers were not observed as professionals because they were seen to have limited knowledge, that has all changed and these days they are considered to be professionals who possess a wide body of knowledge which is usually gained from academic studies. Leathard (2003) indicates that a professional has a certain expertise that justifiably entitles them to the role of practitioner, who is bound by a code of ethics. Cook et al (2001) found that professionals highlighted trust as an important factor in facilitating open discussion and successful role negotiation, both important features of interprofessional working.
The terms interprofessional and multidisciplinary are the most commonly used words that many professionals employ in practice. Freeman et al (2000) defines interprofessional to be where a group of professionals interact with each other across boundaries for the benefit of the patient. Another term used in place of interprofessional is multidisciplinary, this term was used more frequently in the 1980’s and 90’s where as defined by (Day 2006) is a group of professionals working together with little collaboration. Both groups share a common purpose which is to contribute to patient care.
Gregson et al (1991), suggests that the terms teamwork and collaboration are both used to describe
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