During this lightening talk, we will discuss the findings of our longitudinal research on early interprofessional socialization among health professional students. Socialization of health professionals can impact their future as collaborative practitioners. However, there is a gap in our understanding of best practices in relation to interprofessional education, including how professional socialization impacts perceptions, expectations and practices of collaboration across health professions. The aim of this research is to gain an understanding of how professional socialization experiences among health professional students (dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy) impacts readiness for collaborative practice at the time of graduation.
This study employed an interpretive, narrative methodology to understand the experiences and evolving self-identities of health professional students over the course of 6 years. This talk will focus on the graduation narratives of 15 individuals who had recently completed their health professional programs. Findings reveal the integral role of interprofessional education towards preparing collaborative practitioners. Across all health profession groups, participants did not feel adequately prepared for collaborative practice and expressed the need for more formal and informal interprofessional opportunities during their educational programs. Participants believed that greater focus was needed on experiential learning, building meaningful connections with other health professionals, and better integrating interprofessional education into the health professions curriculum. Participant narratives also provide insight into the critical influence of peers, mentors, and role models, and experiential learning (clinicals, placements, and simulations) on the development of their interprofessional identities. Findings emphasize that educational programs/curriculums need to provide enhanced exposure to the best settings, practitioners and experiences to optimize interprofessional identity development and readiness for collaborative practice. The findings of this study can assist academic institutions in better understanding the needs of health professions students to adequately prepare them to work in collaborative teams and deliver collaborative care.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (OICPD). The OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
The National Center OICPD is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
