How do you avoid division and prevent friction between nurses and the Rad Techs in Interventional Radiology/Special Procedures?

Something very helpful in my IR dept: Last week of orientation was spent with the opposite role (performing hands on tasks that are within scope so that they have an understanding of that role and can appreciate the work that goes into it). For example: new RN stays with RT, helps set up trays, learns basics of scrub (mostly shadows) and equipment locations, communicates with IR doc about equipment. Vice-versa, RT assists with getting patient positioned, connected to monitoring, nurse checks/set-up, time-out board, observes nursing process/medication admin, hand-off. Just a really good way of showing where our roles can/do overlap: number 1 being patient safety! Also positioning, time-outs, room set up, gathering equip so it better prepares us to assist each other when we can. We're not ready until our team is ready and there's definitely times where either party needs more assistance depending on case, so it's everyone's responsibility to keep the team on track.

Also, our team emphasised that neither is more important than the other, the roles simply have a different focus first, but IR is both of our jobs and we have to assist each other, lack of know-how in helping each other isn't an excuse bc of how we orient.

Finally, RN and RT share the control room. Keeping each other together encourages community and team work. (I've also worked in IRs that keep them separate and that definitely fosters a divide).

First and foremost it is imperative for both teams to agree that WE are a team taking care of OUR patient for the best outcome. We respect each other's knowledge, expertise and unique priorities in caring for a patient. We have a designated Tech who "runs" the patient schedule for the day. Assigning RN with Tech team in different procedure rooms. We all have to be flexible in order for the day to move smoothly and patients taken care of in a timely manner. We both realize that we can't do our jobs without each other so we value everyone involved.

Develop clear roles based on job descriptions.