Tímarit hjúkrunarfræðinga - 2022, Qupperneq 63

Efficiency and good outcomes are important in
healthcare delivery. A clear scope of practice and
good collaboration between health professionals
increase job satisfaction and reduce employee
turnover. International research has shown more
favorable attitudes among nurse anesthetists
toward collaboration with anesthesiologists than
vice versa. These two health professions often view
collaboration differently, and role conflicts are
common. This study aimed to determine Icelandic
nurse anesthetists’ and anesthesiologists’ attitudes
toward nurse–physician collaboration, roles, and
responsibilities.
A descriptive, comparative study was implemented,
including a web survey, which was emailed to
all members of the Icelandic nurse anesthetists
association (N = 115) and anesthesiologists
association (N = 53) in March 2020. An adapted,
translated version of the Jefferson Scale of
Attitudes toward Physician – Nurse Collaboration
measured these professionals’ views on
collaboration (score range 15-60, with higher scores
indicating more positive attitudes). Participants
were also asked about the professional role and
scope of practice of nurse anesthetists. Descriptive
statistics was used and means compared with
t-test.
Attitudes toward collaboration in anesthesia
services in Iceland are positive, but physician
view on their authority and nurse anesthetists’
vague role is concerning. Clarity regarding nurse
anesthetists’ scope of practice based on description
of competence is needed to improve services and
increase job satisfaction.
Aim Results
ENGLISH SUMMARY
Attitudes of nurse anesthetists
and anesthesiologists in iceland
towards professional collaboration
Method
Anesthesiologist; attitude; collaboration; Jefferson
scale; nurse anesthetists.
Correspondent:
arnarut@tengir.is
Conclusion
Keywords
Attitudes of nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists in iceland towards professional collaboration
Gunnarsdottir, A.R., Gunnarsson, B., Svavarsdóttir, M.H.
The response rate was 56.0% (n = 94). Nurse
anesthetists had a more positive attitude
(M = 53.5, SD = 3.1) toward collaboration than did
anesthesiologists (M = 47.6, SD = 5.6) (p < 0.001).
Almost half the participants considered the nurse
anesthetist role in Iceland ill-defined and unclear,
and 72.3% of anesthesiologists agreed that nurse
anesthetists’ primary function was implementing
physicians’ orders. The proportion that agreed
that physicians should be the dominant authority
in healthcare matters was ten times higher among
anesthesiologists than among nurse anesthetists.