Learning from collaboration

Getting staff from different nursing disciplines together to share information is an effective way to improve patient care and enhance staff knowledge in key areas such as falls.

I am part of a group of academics and NHS practice staff that formed a ‘community of practice’ (CoP) team. Its aim is to investigate how effective flooring is in preventing injuries from inpatient falls in a hospital setting.

Practice staff reported that establishing links with colleagues at the university helped develop their research skills, while academics found working in collaboration with practice partners informed their teaching.

Improving patient safety and quality of care is high on the agenda of academics and healthcare staff alike. But it can be challenging for individual staff to interpret the vast range of literature and research evidence base available. One solution is for