Providing interprofessional education for pre and post-registration nurses.

Why you should read this article: • To increase your awareness of interprofessional education • To assist you in enhancing the quality of patient care through collaborative working • To enhance your knowledge of the use of simulation to replicate clinical scenarios in a safe educational environment During an episode of care, a patient may be attended by a variety of healthcare professionals. In addition, healthcare service provision can be complex, and patients may feel that elements of their care have been missed or delayed due to inadequate collaboration and communication between the staff involved. Interprofessional education (IPE) involves students from two or more professions learning about each other's roles and skills. Increasing calls for integrated and joined-up healthcare services mean that staff will be increasingly required to collaborate with colleagues, with the aim of providing joined-up care. This article explains the background to IPE, how it can be implemented in practice and the barriers that nurses should consider to ensure effective implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]