title: Collegiate presence: explaining homogenous but disparate nursing relationships.
abstract: This paper examines the notion of collegiate presence. Collegiate presence is defined as a mutual connection between two or more professional individuals or groups who share a common work focus and who are mindful of cultural differences. This concept emerged as a result of an ethnographic study of two groups of triage nurses; emergency department, and mental health nurses. Data analysis exposed a number of concepts and themes including collegiality and presence. These two concepts were seen to be so closely connected that the term collegiate presence was constructed. This paper explores the notion of collegiate presence and examines factors that affect this phenomenon between what are homogenous (nurses) but disparate cultural groups (emergency department nurses and mental health triage nurses) in a health-care organization. Findings indicate that culturally disparate groups are challenged to develop functional and collaborative working relationships without a deep understanding of, and appreciation for, each other's culture. Developing collegiate presence requires effective communication, social and professional conversations, and physical presence.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health and Social Science Research, Central Queensland University, Noosaville BC, Qld.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Broadbent
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moxham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000592:standards*
keywords: cross-cultural issues; health services delivery; interpersonal skills; multidisciplinary care; nursing role