Partnering for the Future to Improve Patient Care

Schools of Nursing and patient care delivery systems are consistently seeking creative solutions to align nursing academics with patient care delivery. These challenges are particularly unique among the many schools of nursing... [ view full abstract ]

Schools of Nursing and patient care delivery systems are consistently seeking creative solutions to align nursing academics with patient care delivery. These challenges are particularly unique among the many schools of nursing that are not affiliated with academic medical centers. In these cases, academic units are often deprived of opportunities for interprofessional education, dedicated education units and first-hand knowledge of needed competencies for nurses after graduation. On the practice side, further information and support for research, implementation of evidence-based practice, educational development of clinicians, and access to resources for professional publication and presentation are needed. A number of successful partnerships have been formed and documented in the literature. Consistent themes in the literature underscore the need for strong support on both sides and clear goals for the partnership. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the development of a strategic partnership between academic and practice environments, mutual goals and keys to success. Three broad initiatives related to the partnership will be specifically addressed, including: 1) strategies to increase the research and evidence-based practice collaborations among the partners; 2) Development of innovative models of interprofessional education (IPE) to improve patient care; and 3) Re-envisioning nursing education to meet the needs of nurses and students. Current progress, barriers to success and strategies for future development will be discussed.