Level of nurse-nurse collaboration and influencing factors in Türkiye and Italy: a mixed-methods study

Background: Collaboration between nurses is crucial in improving quality in healthcare and plays a key role in increasing nurses' job satisfaction.Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the level of collaboration between nurses working in Turkey and Italy and its related factors. The study also deepened the point of view of clinical nurses and nurse managers on this topic.Methods: This study was carried out as mixed-methods research including both qualitative and quantitative methods. The study's quantitative sample included 348 clinical nurses. The Nurse-Nurse Collaboration Scale was used to collect quantitative data. Five open-ended questions were used to analyse the nurses' point of view about intraprofessional collaboration. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 clinical nurses and 10 nurse managers.Results: Nurse-nurse collaboration was above the cut off value in both countries. However, significant inter-country differences were found in the collaboration subscales. Qualitative results emphasised that personal characteristics, a specific training in collaboration, the opportunities for comparison and mutual consultation during working shifts may affect the level of collaboration. Nurse managers argued that factors such as manpower planning, suitable working conditions, sufficient materials, empathy, job satisfaction, motivation and effective communication affect collaboration.Conclusion: Greater efforts should be made to implement collaboration between nurses in healthcare settings. Our results help healthcare services in implementing new collaboration policies.