Stronger Together: RNs and RPNs Collaborative Practice

Collaborative practice in health care is essential as it strengthens the relationship among teams and enhances an integrative work platform. Registered nurses (RN) and registered practical nurses (RPN) work together on specialized acute care (SAC) units utilizing the nursing skilled-mixed model. RNs and RPNs work side-by-side, but as distinct entities, where the two-nursing group function independent of each other. There is a need to understand what collaborative practice means to RNs and RPNs, hence this formal study was conducted to explore the experience of RNs and RPNs regarding collaborative practice on SAC units. Qualitative Action Research was conducted to comprehend challenges and pinpoint effective strategies for strengthening collaborative practice among RNs and RPNs.