Student Perceptions Regarding Collaborative Intraprofessional Nursing Education.

BACKGROUND: Teamwork is an important factor in the provision of high-quality health care. There is a lack of research on collaboration between nursing students at different program levels.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to determine student perceptions about collaborative learning activities between prelicensure BSN and MSN students.

METHODS: Community assessments by BSN students identified health needs and issues for 6 underserved populations. Online MSN students used these assessments to create low-literacy patient education pamphlets. In turn, BSN students provided educational sessions at community sites using the pamphlets. Both groups completed presurveys and postsurveys assessing their perceptions of collaborative learning.

RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between the respondent groups for 3 survey questions about how this project helped prepare them for future practice and professional collaboration. Eight qualitative themes were identified.

CONCLUSION: Although desiring more face-to-face interaction between groups, students reported that collaboration was important.