ABSTRACTNurses employed in ten rural hospitals in Canada completed questionnaires designed to examine their perceptions of the strength of the professional relationship which existed among nurses and between nurses and physicians. Four questions addressed the availability of nursing education programs and the attendance of nurses and physicians at such programs. Seven questions examined the nurses’perception of physician interest in nursing education and the encouragement received from their nursing colleagues to participate in learning activities and medical management decision making. Chi square analysis was undertaken to determine whether the colleagial relationships differed by hospital or medical staff characteristics. Forty percent of the nurses felt that the majority, of physicians were supportive of continuing nursing education. Sixty‐three percent indicated their nursing colleagues encouraged them to attend educational programs. The results indicate that physician participation in nursing continuing education was greatest in communities with the fewest health resources (an acute hospital with fewer than 50 beds). In contrast, encouragement to participate in continuing nursing education was highest in settings where the hospital provided both acute and extended care services, had more patient admissions and a greater availability of educational programm