Collaborating for Better Outcomes: Exploring the Link Between Nurse-Nurse Collaboration and Nurse Job Satisfaction

As Registered Nurses (RNs) are crucial to delivering care, it is important to determine the factors which contribute to a healthy work environment for nurses and positive outcomes for patients. Past research has focused on the benefits of nurse-physician collaboration including improved nurse/ patient satisfaction and lower patient mortality. The few studies which have explored nurse-nurse collaboration have linked it with positive outcomes. To determine whether there is a relationship between nurse-nurse collaboration and nurse job satisfaction in the hospital setting, this correlational study involved a convenience/ snowball sample of RNs working in hospitals, who completed the two study instruments (Dougherty-Larson Nurse-Nurse Collaboration Instrument [DLNNCI] and McCloskey Mueller Satisfaction Scale [MMSS]). The results indicated a significant, positive correlation between nurse-nurse collaboration and nurse job satisfaction (r = .569, p<.01). Collaboration between nurses is associated with nurse job satisfaction and may contribute to the development of a healthy work environment