SENIOR ASSOCIATE DEGREE NURSING AND RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION IN COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The concept of communication and team collaboration is explored throughout the individual Nursing and Radiologic Technology programs. Rarely is communication and collaboration addressed specifically between Nursing and Radiologic Technology disciplines. Nursing and radiography students begin a clinical rotation in the college laboratory and progress to a hospital environment. There is no opportunity for Nursing and Radiologic Technology students to work collaboratively with clients in the hospital environment. Faculty collaborated and presented nursing and radiography students an opportunity to participate in a computerized patient simulation. The opportunity to experience an interdisciplinary collaboration allows the nursing and radiolography students to demonstrate their critical thinking and communication skills just prior to entering the professional health care field. A pilot study was developed to explore interdisciplinary collaboration in communication skills between senior nursing and radiography students.