Abstract
The purpose of this study is to clarify the role and specialization of nursery teachers, and the awareness of and issues faced by both nurses and nursery teachers regarding collaboration. In this study, focus group interviews were conducted with the research subjects being-seventeen nurses (4G) and fifteen nursery teachers (3G) working in pediatric wards at four hospitals. Nurses perceived collaboration with nursery teachers as mainly being the exchange of information through transfer of information conferences and the like, while in addition to this, nursery teachers recognized that collaboration also included working with other professionals in performing preparation, development and implementation of examinations; so there was a difference in how both groups perceived collaboration. This difference reflects the current state in which nurses and nursery teachers do not have an equal position in the team of child care. For better collaboration, it is very important that nurses respect nursery teachers' specialization, and to more positively understand the nursery teachers' role. Furthermore the nursery teachers need to explain their own roles in the hospital to other healthcare members.
