Interprofessionalism in Service of the Identity Construction of Nursing Students[L’interprofessionnalité au service de la construction identitaire des étudiants en soins infirmiers]

Introduction Socio-economic changes in the healthcare sector significantly alter the identity construction of health students. This presentation examines the well-being of health students and healthcare professionals, identifying the causes and exploring how interprofessionalism can act as a lever to improve their well-being and facilitate the construction of a collective interprofessional identity. Methodology Restitution of two studies: 1. The first study involves a qualitative analysis of interviews with nursing students and healthcare professionals, identifying the perceived causes of their well-being issues and examining how the experiences of tutors can impact nursing students. 2. The second is a mixed-method study focusing on an interprofessional training program in the context of palliative care, involving 5th-year medical students, 3rd-year nursing students, and 2nd-year physiotherapy students. This study was conducted through interviews and various questionnaires (quality of interpersonal relationships, sense of personal and collective efficacy, sense of social belonging, community of practice). Results An interesting element that emerges from these studies is the perception of a compartmentalized work environment and a lack of awareness of other professions, as well as a strong hierarchy within the professions. This leads to the hypothesis that working in an interprofessional mode, rather than multidisciplinary practice, could be a lever for constructing a common identity and thus make sense (allowing the community to be rebuilt). The results of the second study highlighted that interprofessionalism from initial training acts as a catalyst for motivation among health students and allows the formation of a health community of practice through the heuristic model of individually motivated collectives. Discussion Interprofessional collaboration in healthcare appears to be a lever that allows the structuring of a specific community of practice. However, one might question the persistence of this on the long term due to its decontextualized nature. It is also important to reflect more broadly on a community involving the patient and their relatives in the specific context of palliative care. Strengthening a medically-centered community of practice potentially distances it from the patient's perspective.