Exceptional patient care is never delivered alone. At the heart of a high-functioning healthcare team is the partnership between nurses and doctors, a dynamic that directly impacts patient safety, outcomes, and your professional satisfaction.
Whether you are newly qualified, an internationally educated nurse adapting to the NHS, or an experienced professional refining your leadership skills, mastering this collaboration is essential for career growth.
Why Collaboration Matters
Nurses often know patients best. By recognising subtle changes, providing continuity of care, and advocating for patient needs, you play a vital role in clinical decision-making. When collaboration with doctors is built on mutual respect, care is safer, more efficient, and consistently centred on the patient.
Strong collaboration also supports your professional well-being, helping you feel valued, confident, and respected. Conversely, poor collaboration can lead to misunderstandings, delays, and unnecessary stress. Building effective relationships with doctors not only improves outcomes but also enhances your daily experience as a nurse.
Understanding Your Role as a Nurse in the MDT
Your role extends far beyond following instructions. As a nurse, you are accountable for assessing patients, identifying risks, escalating concerns, and contributing informed clinical judgement to the multidisciplinary team. You spend more continuous time with patients than most other professionals, which places you in a strong position to recognise subtle changes, understand individual needs, and provide essential context that shapes safe decision-making.
Recognising your professional value is key to confident collaboration. The NMC Code clearly sets out your responsibility to prioritise people, practise effectively, preserve safety, and promote professionalism and trust. Understanding these standards reinforces your authority to speak up, ask questions, and advocate for patients without hesitation. When you are grounded in your professional responsibilities, you can engage with doctors as a knowledgeable and accountable partner in care.
From Hierarchy to Partnership
Effective collaboration begins with a mindset shift. View doctors as partners in a shared mission, where both perspectives, diagnostic and treatment expertise from doctors and holistic patient oversight from nurses, are equally critical. Understanding the pressures your colleagues face fosters empathy and creates a foundation for teamwork.
Use Structured Frameworks to Communicate with Clarity and Purpose
Confidence in collaboration comes from using structured approaches that ensure you are heard clearly and professionally. SBAR, meaning Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation, is widely recognised across the NHS as the gold standard for structured communication. It enables you to present complex information in a concise and actionable way while demonstrating clear clinical reasoning.
Begin with the situation by identifying the patient and immediate concern. Provide relevant background, outline your assessment using objective observations and professional judgement, and finish with a clear recommendation for review or action. This structured approach supports patient safety and strengthens your professional credibility.
For example, you might say, “I’m calling about Mr Jones in bed 6 (situation). He was admitted with pneumonia and has deteriorated over the last hour (background). His oxygen saturation has dropped to 88% despite oxygen therapy (assessment). I’m concerned he may need a medical review and escalation of treatment (recommendation).”
Choose the Right Communication Channel
Choosing the right communication channel is equally important. In-person discussions suit complex or sensitive matters, while a bleep or phone call is appropriate for urgent concerns. Opening with “Is this a good time for a quick SBAR?” sets a professional tone. Electronic notes are ideal for routine updates and maintaining an audit trail.
Use Assertive, Patient-Centred Language
Use assertive, patient-centred language. Rather than saying, “You need to come and see this patient,” reference clinical findings, such as a NEWS2 threshold, to support your concern. Framing discussions around shared responsibility and patient safety encourages effective collaboration.
Navigating Challenges Professionally
Disagreeing or Questioning a Plan
Use the Advocate and Inquiry model to raise concerns professionally. State your concern based on facts, then invite dialogue. For example:
"To ensure safety, can we clarify the dosage? My experience suggests this starting dose may be high for renal-impaired patients."
Know your trust’s escalation policy and use it without hesitation if patient safety is at risk.
Collaborating Under Pressure
In emergencies, use closed-loop communication to reduce the risk of error. For example:
"Dr. Smith, you asked for 5 mg of IV metoprolol. I am drawing up 5 mg of IV metoprolol now."
This confirms instructions clearly and supports safe, efficient teamwork.
Building Trust Over Time
Trust develops through small, consistent actions. Following through on tasks, providing concise updates, and acknowledging colleagues’ efforts help build rapport and professional credibility over time.
Overcoming Common Challenges
Many nurses face intimidation, cultural differences, workload pressures, or adjusting to new clinical settings. These challenges are normal. Mentorship, observing confident colleagues, and ongoing professional development can help you strengthen collaborative skills and feel more assured in your role.
The Partnership Advantage in Your Career
Strong partnerships with doctors are more than a communication tactic; they are central to safe, effective, and rewarding nursing. Applying these strategies helps you contribute to a culture of respect, improve patient outcomes, and develop your career as a clinical leader.
Looking for a nursing role within a trust that values true multidisciplinary collaboration? At Verovian Nursing Recruitment Agency, we partner with NHS trusts and private providers renowned for supportive, team-oriented cultures. Register with us today to find a team where your voice is valued and your career can thrive.
