Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

What type of relationship exists between a physician and a nurse practitioner when a patient is referred?

1. Consultative

2. Collaborative

3. Professional

4. Advocate

The correct answer is: Collaborative

The relationship that exists between a physician and a nurse practitioner when a patient is referred is characterized as collaborative. In a collaborative relationship, both the physician and the nurse practitioner work together as part of a healthcare team, sharing responsibilities and contributing their respective expertise to optimize patient care. This approach enhances communication and coordination, ensuring that the patient's needs are met effectively, while also maintaining continuity of care. In contrast, a consultative relationship typically involves one party seeking expert advice from another, which may not entail the same level of active cooperation as seen in collaborative practices. The term professional could describe the overall relationship but lacks the specific nuances of joint decision-making and shared responsibility inherent in a collaborative model. Advocacy often refers to supporting the needs and rights of patients but does not define the interprofessional relationship between a physician and a nurse practitioner in the context of referrals. Therefore, the collaborative model best encapsulates the partnership formed around patient referrals, underlining the importance of teamwork in providing comprehensive healthcare.