Connecting Again: Optimizing and Improving Nurse-Resident Relationships in a Post-COVID World
Author(s): Amy Choy, Sarah Jacob
Description:
On-site learning opportunities dwindled with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing and masking became the norm. Nursing staff were redeployed or redirected to support other pandemic efforts. As a result, the relationship between residents and nurses was lost; residents felt unsupported, and nurses felt disconnected.
A nurse-resident informal mentorship program was launched in July 2022 in an effort to rebuild connections and foster a stronger collaborative relationship between the nursing team and resident physicians. Components of this program included: randomized assignment of residents to members of the nursing team (known informally as a “nursing buddy”), a formalized nursing-led skills lab for incoming residents to learn basic clinical skills, and partnership with nursing during resident-led urgent care clinics.
This program aims to create a supportive and positive learning environment for residents, build better understanding of respective roles, and enhance collaboration between disciplines. Participating in resident education and investing in their growth and development has also had a positive impact on the nursing team. Establishing a strong foundation of inter-professional relationships within the residency program will encourage the practice of maintaining collaboration with nurses in their future careers as physicians.