ORCID

0009-0003-0003-3224

Keywords

clinical education, interprofessional education, interprofessional collaborative practice, healthcare education

Abstract

As healthcare systems adapt to meet increasingly complex population health needs, interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP) has emerged as a vital strategy to improve patient outcomes while decreasing costs. Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for preparing health professions students to engage in patient-centered, team-based care. However, faculty must be equipped to design and facilitate IPE experiences for successful integration into health professions curricula. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) created Core Competencies for IPCP, including roles and responsibilities, teams and teamwork, communication, and values and ethics, to guide faculty in preparing students to be collaborative healthcare providers. While academic faculty have been the primary focus of IPE professional development efforts, clinical education faculty, who are often volunteer clinicians with limited pedagogical training, play a critical role in mentoring students during required clinical education experiences. This study examines clinical education faculty’s perceptions and experiences with IPE and IPCP. Using a phenomenological approach, this study explored the lived experiences of clinical educators in facilitating IPE and IPCP with students during clinical education experiences. Seven themes were identified: (a) knowledge of role and competencies, (b) critical but clinical skills come first, (c) education by observation and demonstration, (d) context matters, (e) personal experiences influence perception, (f) breaking barriers, and (g) need for advanced education. These insights highlight the importance of providing clinical education faculty with the necessary training and resources to effectively support IPE and foster collaborative practice among future healthcare professionals.

Completion Date

2025

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Devon Jensen

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

Higher Education Leadership

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029744

Document Type

Thesis

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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