Academic service-learning nursing partnerships in the Americas: a scoping review

Abstract

Background Academic service-learning nursing partnerships (ASLNPs) integrate instruction, reflection, and scholarship with tailored service through enriched learning experiences that teach civic responsibility and strengthen communities, while meeting academic nursing outcomes. Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify, appraise, and synthesize evidence of community focused ASLNPs that promote primary health care throughout the Americas region. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Google Scholar, and LILACS English-language databases was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Full-text articles published since 2010 were reviewed using an inductive thematic approach stemming from the “Advancing Healthcare Transformation: a New Era for Academic Nursing Report” and the Pan American Health Organization “Strategic Directions for Nursing.” Results A total of 51 articles were included with the vast majority 47 (92.1 %) representing North America. Structured, established relationships between an academic nursing institution or program and one or more community serving entities resulted in high levels of effectiveness and innovation across settings. Five themes emerged: (a) sustaining educational standards and processes - improving academic outcomes (25.5 %), (b) strengthening capacity for collaborative practice and interprofessional education (13.7 %), (c) preparing nurses of the future (11.8 %), (d) enhancing community services and outcomes (21.6 %), and (e) conceptualizing or implementing innovative academic nursing partnerships (27.4 %). A synthesis of conceptual frameworks and models revealed six focus areas: communities/populations (26.2 %), nursing (26.2 %), pedagogy (19 %), targeted outreach (14.3 %), interprofessional collaboration (11.9 %), and health determinants (9.5 %). A proliferation in US articles, triggered by nursing policy publications, was confirmed. Conclusions ASLNPs serve as mechanisms for nurses and faculty to develop and lead change across a wide variety of community settings and healthcare systems, develop scholarship, as well as for students to apply the knowledge and skills learned. Given the lack of geographically broad evidence, successes and challenges across U.S. partnerships should be viewed cautiously. Nevertheless, ASLNPs can play a critical role towards meeting the goal of universal health access and coverage through partnering with the education sector. Further investigation of grey literature as well as Spanish and Portuguese language literature from Latin American and Caribbean countries is highly recommended.

A commentary on the Pan American Network of Nursing and Midwifery Collaborating Centres

“…For example, PANMCC researchers published a number of jointly written articles in various high-ranking journals in 2021, including Lancet Global Health, Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing and BMC Nursing. The articles focused on studies related to nurse staffing and patient outcomes in Chile (7), an online community of practice for nurses and midwives (8), nursing students' attitudes regarding alcohol use in four countries ( 9) and academic service-learning nursing partnerships (10).…”

Academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice: a scoping review protocol

“…10 The term academic-practice partnerships refers to a type of strategic relationship between educational and clinical practice settings, which can promote the mutual interests related to nursing practice, education and research by leveraging the talents and strengths of both sides. 11 12 For example, collaborations of academic organisations (eg, universities, research and/or academic institutions) and clinical organisations (eg, hospitals, community healthcare centres) are common academic-practice partnerships in nursing. In this review, we also identify collaborations of academic nurses in academic settings and clinical nurses in clinical settings as a type of academic-practice partnership.…”

“…These reviews discussed the benefits, models, processes, structures and influencing factors in academic-practice partnerships in nursing education and/or research. 11 15 17 21–23 However, there is a lack of reviews on academic-practice partnerships from the perspective of EBNP. Little information is also available on the definition, specific practice models, processes, elements and influencing factors of academic-practice partnerships in EBNP.…”

“…The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has recommended academic-practice partnerships as the key mechanism in advancing healthcare to strengthen the involvement of nurses in clinical practice and to prepare them to lead change 10. The term academic-practice partnerships refers to a type of strategic relationship between educational and clinical practice settings, which can promote the mutual interests related to nursing practice, education and research by leveraging the talents and strengths of both sides 11 12. For example, collaborations of academic organisations (eg, universities, research and/or academic institutions) and clinical organisations (eg, hospitals, community healthcare centres) are common academic-practice partnerships in nursing.…”

“…This search yielded seven reviews that focused on academic-practice partnerships in nursing. These reviews discussed the benefits, models, processes, structures and influencing factors in academic-practice partnerships in nursing education and/or research 11 15 17 21–23. However, there is a lack of reviews on academic-practice partnerships from the perspective of EBNP.…”