Value creation in a learning community: an interprofessional partnership between nursing home care, education and students

Abstract

Objectives To assess the value created in a learning community – comprised of different professionals and nursing students – at a nursing home. Methods A case study approach was used. Data were collected between 2019 and 2021 through self-reports, observations and stories (interviews, diaries). Results The template analysis revealed nine transcending themes, six associated with preexisting value-creation cycles (expected, immediate, potential, applied, realized and transformative value) and three other relevant themes: contextual, factors and value-creation initiators. Conclusions A nursing home learning community comprised of diverse professionals in partnership with nursing students shows a variety of value creation and seems to potentially leverage interprofessional and lifelong learning activities, on top of formal nursing education. It is recommended to integrate the value-creation cycles into the processes of learning communities to promote collective decision-making. Research on both the final level of students involved and having residents participate in the learning community would be worthwhile.