In addition to soliciting information, the collaboration
skill set encompasses organizing and providing
pertinent information to physicians and other team
members. Respondents said that nurses who exemplify
professionalism are proactive and have their ducks in a
row, carefully preparing information before addressing
others’ information needs, especially the needs of
physicians. Nurses in particular commented about the
importance of having vital signs, labs, meds, and patient
history before paging physicians with questions or
requests. One nurse explained the organized provision
of information with the following example of another
nurse who successfully communicates patient concerns
when contacting physicians: bBy giving the purpose of
her call, what she is hoping to get, having background
information in advance, it makes the whole process
easier. She anticipates [the physician’s] needs.Q On a
related note, a physician talked about nurses’ ability to
anticipate future issues and foresee potential problems:
bProfessional nurses can look days ahead and see
problems that could develop down the road if we don’t