Peer Coaching Integrated in Simulation: Improving Intraprofessional Teamwork.

Poor communication in healthcare is recognized as a leading cause of medical errors. There is a call from national healthcare organizations for nursing education to focus on higher level competencies. Teamwork and collaboration is one of these competencies and should be a priority in nursing education. It is imperative that nurses function with open communication, mutual respect, and shared decision-making as members of the intra professional team. The traditional clinical practice setting is typically not conducive for an entire clinical group to fully practice these skills. Integrating peer coaching in simulation provides students with the opportunity to practice open communication, provide mutual respect, and share decision making to solve patient problems in a safe environment.