title: Collaboration and autonomy: perceptions among nurse practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This descriptive study was designed to investigate the relationship between nurse practitioners' (NPs) perceptions of collaboration with physician colleagues and level of autonomy NP practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 99 NPs attending a national clinical conference completed the Dempster Practice Behavior Scale (DPBS) and the Collaborative Practice Scale modified for advanced practice nurses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NPs rated both their perceptions of collaboration with physician colleagues and levels of autonomy as high. Yet, there was no significant correlation between these variables.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collaboration between NPs and physician colleagues is said to improve the quality and cost of health outcomes and also leads to professional satisfaction. Further research into the relationships between collaboration and autonomy are necessary to understand these complex concepts.
authors.affiliation: Sewickley Medical Oncology Hematology, Moon Township, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: Mary Margaret
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Maylone
authors.forename: LeeAnn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ranieri
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Quinn Griffin
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: McNulty
authors.forename: Joyce J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fitzpatrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000523:psychology*; D011209:Power, Psychological; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011594:Psychometrics; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology