Prospects for Future Multi-disciplinary Collaboration

Abstract

Background: Intersectoral and multidisciplinary collaboration is becoming more prominent in all facets of government, health, social services, and scientific endeavors. An interplay of a multitude of driving forces moves multiple disciplines forward to achieve quality outcomes in health and social sciences services and research. Aim: This paper aims at discussing the prospects for future multidisciplinary collaboration. If inter organizational integration and multidisciplinary collaboration are the ways of the future in academia and the scientific world, it then becomes crucial to examine what lies ahead for the nursing profession, Discussion: This paper argues that in order for multidisciplinary endeavors to succeed, the leaders in multidisciplinary teams shoulder the largest share of the responsibilities involved. In developing a lasting team constituting professionals from different disciplines, the leader needs to include the right individuals in the team, identify a common goal, build trusting relationships through open communication and interprofessional education, and empower members through creating room for autonomy and at the same time allowing space for personal development. The leader will need to utilize information technologies to manage communication issues in a large multi-site multidisciplinary project. Lastly, he or she must be able to demonstrate team productivity through process and outcome evaluation. It needs to be emphasized that it falls to each individual nurse to speak up and act upon what nursing believes and represents in our quest for success in multidisciplinary endeavors. Conclusion: The significance of the role of the leader is paramount for a team to succeed. Yet there is no prospect if only a handful of exceptional nurse leaders are moving ahead in multidisciplinary endeavors. Without the actualization of professional roles by each individual nurse, the profession will have no prospect in collaborations across disciplines.