Components necessary in a successful nurse practitioner-physician collaborative practice.

Abstract

In recent years, collaborative practice has gained much attention from nurse practitioners in primary health care settings. This is because many nurse practitioners feel that nurse practitioners and physicians can complement each other's roles. Together, they can provide more comprehensive, quality primary health care than either profession can provide by itself. Nurse practitioners and physicians working together to care for a common group of patients may have varying degrees of collaboration in their practice. This article discusses some elements and components necessary to maximize the quality and extent of collaboration.