Academic–Practice Partnerships: A Win-Win

Abstract

Partnerships between academia and practice can lead to improved patient care and health system innovations. Nurse educators in both academia and practice are positioned to facilitate opportunities for students and practicing nurses to be involved in evidence-based practice (EBP) care initiatives involving academic-health care partners in clinical and/or community-based systems. Best practices in collaborative partnerships have demonstrated the significance of their far-reaching impact on patients, students, direct care nurses, and health systems. Translation of EBP knowledge to practice transforms patient outcomes and empowers nurses to address the complexity of health care systems. This article describes the process and outcomes of an academic–practice partnership facilitated by nurse educators in both academic and practice settings. The impact of the adoption of EBP projects on clinical practice, students, and practicing nurses is described. National and international implications for academic– practice partnerships are discussed. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 2019;50(6):282–288.]

Systems Thinking for Managing COVID-19 in Health Care Systems: Seven Key Messages

“…It is the era for nurse educators to insist that academic systems secure research funding to support supercomputer technologies that can be used to analyze big data for predictive clinical models to yield health outcomes (WHO, 2020a). Nurse educators can also work to support academic-practice partnerships that foster workforce development opportunities, especially supporting overburdened health care workers (Phillips et al, 2019;Phillips et al, 2020).…”

“…It is a process that connects the etiology of system-based problems to adverse consequences with improvement processes and outcomes (Notarnicola et al, 2019). An author-created model, the SAM (Phillips et al, 2016;Phillips et al, 2019) can be used by health care professionals as they navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in health systems. Utilizing the SAM develops awareness of systems thinking, culminating in confidence and leadership in complex health systems.…”

Academic practice partnerships: A review of a statewide population health nursing leadership initiative

“…Students receive unique educational experiences to expand their understanding of the health care system, gain skills in managing chronic conditions, and improve their ability to translate EBP knowledge to population-focused environments (McClure et al, 2017). Students learn the application and necessity of implementing EBP as a part of daily patient care (Phillips et al, 2019). Moreover Breen et al (2019) found that students immersed in an APP experience developed an appreciation and respect for the contributions of peers and the work of school nurses in addressing asthma self-management for children.…”

“…Phillips et al (2019) found that nurses who participated in an APP attended student EBP presentations, guided EBP care at the bedside, and learned how to search the literature for applicable evidence to improve clinical decision making, leading to the creation of sustainable EBP programs. Similarly, Glynn et al(2018), reported an increase in VA clinical faculty, educational programs, and Veterancentered publications following engagement in an APP.…”

Academic Faculty Shadowing Their Graduate Nurses

“…The AACN (2016AACN ( , 2021 has called for a paradigm shift in how academic and practice leaders work together. With different priorities, approaches, and baseline assumptions, it is important for both groups to identify common worldviews and develop a collaborative framework for addressing challenges, recognizing opportunities, and acting together to ensure the nation's nursing workforce is prepared to meet current and future demands within a transforming health care system (AACN, 2021;Beal & Zimmerman, 2019;Phillips et al, 2019;Sebastian et al, 2018). Examples of academic-practice partnerships are reported in the literature (AACN, 2016(AACN, , 2020, but there is limited evidence of partnerships seeking to understand differing perspectives, priorities, and challenges in order to collaborate in addressing nurse preparation for practice.…”