Academic-practice Partnership Research Articles

Development and Testing of the Relational and Structural Components of Innovativeness Across Academia and Practice for Healthcare Progress Scale.

Using data from 5 academic-practice sites across the United States, researchers developed and validated a scale to measure conditions that enable healthcare innovations. Academic-practice partnerships are a catalyst for innovation and healthcare development. However, limited theoretically grounded evidence exists to provide strategic direction for healthcare innovation across practice and academia. Phase 1 of the analytical strategy involved scale development using 16 subject matter experts. Phase 2 involved pilot testing the scale. The final Innovativeness Across Academia and Practice for Healthcare Progress Scale (IA-APHPS) consisted of 7 domains: 3 relational domains, 2 structural domains, and 2 impact domains. The confirmatory factor analysis model fits well with a comparative fit index of 0.92 and a root-mean-square error of approximation of 0.06 (n = 477). As the 1st validated scale of healthcare innovation, the IA-APHPS allows nurses to use a diagnostic tool to facilitate innovative processes and outputs across academic-practice partnerships.

Design and Implementation of a Nursing Capstone Across a Multisite Health System.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created profound effects in nursing education. Using a robust academic-practice partnership, a college of nursing and a health care organization collaborated to launch Jefferson Capstone Experience (JCE), an education delivery model that included a one-to-one, 108-hour clinical preceptorship between an experienced RN and an undergraduate nursing student. The expedited design, implementation, and evaluation of JCE is described. The mixed-method program evaluation included surveys, interviews, and focus groups with students, faculty, and preceptors. Students and preceptors reported high levels of satisfaction with JCE. All parties emphasized the importance of clear and timely communication, academic practice collaboration, and organization. A significant number of capstone graduates accepted a position with a capstone clinical partner. Although the logistics of planning and implementation were challenging, an immersive and largely positive experience was created for undergraduate students, which created a robust hiring pipeline of new-to-practice nurses. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):292-297.].

Academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice: A theory-guided scoping review.

Academic-practice partnerships have the potential to solve many challenges in evidence-based nursing practice which is crucial for high-quality care. To identify the existing knowledge on academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice. We conducted this review following the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology. We performed a comprehensive literature search of nine databases as well as five websites for gray literature. Two researchers independently conducted literature screening and data extraction and analysis. A third researcher was involved when needed. Dedicated time, dedicated resources, and compatible goals were found to be the top three inputs in academic-practice partnerships for evidence-based nursing practice. Meeting and discussion were the most popular forms of activities. Sufficient resources were the most important facilitators. Insufficient resources, insufficient time, and communication issues were the top three barriers. The assumption proposed in the practice-academic partnership logic model (i.e., inputs plus activities can lead to outputs and outcomes) was preliminarily verified by the results of this review in the context of evidence-based nursing practice. Academic-practice partnerships can leverage the advantages of both sides to overcome barriers and promote evidence-based nursing practice. However, it is essential to conduct a broader range of high-quality studies. Such endeavors could offer more comprehensive evidence for refining the framework of academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING EDUCATION, PRACTICE, POLICY AND RESEARCH: The "theoretical framework of academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice" could theoretically guide academic and clinical nursing staff to collaborate on evidence-based nursing practice and related research and education programs. The academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice could lead to a win-win situation for both the academic and the clinical sides. Furthermore, the results of this study provide an evidence-based foundation for policymakers to develop supportive policies for academic-practice partnerships in evidence-based nursing practice.

Improvement opportunities for the achievement of reciprocal nursing academic-practice partnerships

American healthcare reform efforts are driving healthcare organizations to demonstrate the ability to reduce costs while improving quality and optimizing healthcare outcomes. Nurses are the largest healthcare clinicians and need proper preparatory education to enter the profession as practice-ready clinicians; however, medical errors and reduced nursing board examination success rates highlight the need for improved nurse academic preparation standards. Evidence has elucidated an expanding nursing education-practice gap problem arising from inadequate integration of academic leadership and faculty within the clinical practice arena. The nursing education-practice gap has been exacerbated by governance structures in academia that limit opportunities for nursing faculty to remain actively engaged in clinical practice settings. To improve new graduate nurse practice readiness, healthcare quality, and cost-effectiveness, academic institutions must partner with healthcare delivery organizations within mutually beneficial models. The purpose of this article is to describe the expanding nursing education-practice gap problem in relevance to American healthcare quality and reform initiatives and to propose innovative solutions assigned with evidence-based standards.

Supporting Nurse Professional Development Practitioners Through an Academic-Practice Pilot Initiative.

Nurse professional development practitioners (NPDPs) support licensed nurses as they transition into practice. The NPDPs themselves benefit from opportunities to grow professionally in their role as educators. A nursing school and hospital leadership pilot initiative was conducted to support staff development for NPDPs at a Midwestern health system. Four sessions were developed by academic educators and presented to NPDPs: educational theory, backward curricular design, active learning strategies, and assessment and evaluation principles. The NPDPs who attended the seminar indicated that the program objectives were met and identified at least one change they planned to make in planning, course design, or evaluation. In addition, they requested future professional development opportunities. Planning and implementation of this pilot educational seminar provided valuable content for NPDPs. This pilot model can strengthen academic-practice partnerships and support ongoing staff development. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(5):253-256.].

Interprofessional education collaborative: A pilot simulation project

BackgroundInterprofessional education (IPE) is fundamental to healthcare because good team functioning is associated with good patient outcomes, increased staff satisfaction, and high quality of patient care. This paper will discuss an IPE collaboration at a university in Southwest Georgia in partnership with the local health care facility with nursing students and a variety of allied health students. InnovationThe mission of the project was to facilitate interprofessional simulation opportunities and academic-practice partnerships among health care faculty, professionals, and students. The goals were to establish four interprofessional competency domains for collaborative practice: values/ethics, roles/responsibilities, interprofessional communication, and teamwork during an interdisciplinary simulation experience. ResultsAt the completion of the collaborative IPE, participants from the respective educational disciplines were able to appreciate the four interprofessional competency domains. More IPE simulations are recommended to enhance learners’ knowledge and skills. ConclusionThe collaboration among all health care students will lay the groundwork for more advanced learning activities and can offer immense opportunities for students to be “practice ready” graduates into the workforce which leads to improvements in patient outcomes.

Academic Leadership for Advancing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Academic nursing prepares nurses for the future to deliver, improve, and innovate health care. Moving forward on this imperative requires nurse leaders to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts thus partnering with individuals, families, communities, and other sectors to advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and improve care. The purpose of this article is to describe the creation, launch, and evaluation of an Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in an academic nursing institution. Lessons learned are shared to assist others in their own journey to establish a DEI structure within an academic setting, especially one with a robust academic-practice partnership. The ideas shared are easily transferable to nonacademic settings.

Using a Behavioral Health Integration Model in a Family Nurse Practitioner Residency.

Primary care serves as an entry point for many patients to access health care services, especially those who reside in medically underserved areas. Because an initiative exists for family nurse practitioners (FNPs) to fill primary care gaps in medically underserved areas, they must be included in educational strategies to provide quality behavioral health care within their scope of practice. An academic-practice partnership was used to provide FNP residents the opportunity to learn to work within their scope of practice in a behavioral health integration model. The residents noted satisfaction with the learning environment, supervisory relationship, and role of the faculty. Innovative continuing education activities are needed to prepare novice FNPs to safely practice and enter into a health care workforce pipeline focused on reducing disparities in medically underserved areas. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2024;55(4):203-208.].

P12: Living Lab as academic practice partnership to improve care for people with dementia

Objective:Bridging the gap between clinical practice and research in health care is a challenging task. Living Labs are academic practice partnerships to stress the ambition to start up a longstanding collaboration, which have been developed and implemented in the Netherlands (Verbeek et al., 2020). The “PraWiDem” (“Living Lab Dementia”) project aims to adapt the Maastricht Living Lab approach to long-term dementia care in different regions in Germany.Methods:A mixed methods approach was used to guide the adaptation of the Maastricht Living Lab. A focus group study investigated perspectives of people with dementia, informal carers and professionals on expectations and experiences concerning collaboration and networking between research and practice. A scoping review mapped international experiences in knowledge transfer practices and collaboration approaches in nursing care. Experts from the Maastricht Living Lab supported the research team in adapting the approach to the German national context. Parts of the German “Living Lab Dementia” concept were discussed with members of a recently formed research participation group of people with dementia (“experts by experience”).Results:In total, 10 focus groups and 5 individual interviews were conducted. Key themes include researchers’ and professionals’ skills, participation of people with dementia and informal carers, and multi-professional requirements. The scoping review identified 17 different approaches of knowledge translation and collaboration. Few approaches address the common development and implementation of knowledge and networking. Dutch experts recommend the early development of long-lasting strategies for collaboration. Experts by experience wish to participate, but traditional research methods may need to be adapted to allow their participation.Conclusion:The “Living Lab Dementia” is currently under investigation in collaboration with institutional and community care services in three regions in Germany.

Excellence in Nursing Preceptorship-to-Hire, part 2: An academic-practice partnership to recruit and retain nurses.

Excellence in Nursing Preceptorship-to-Hire, part 2: An academic-practice partnership to recruit and retain nurses.

Nurse Externships: Exploring Innovations to Recruit and Mentor Clinical Adjunct Faculty.

Recruitment and mentoring of clinical preceptors for adjunct clinical faculty positions is essential to easing the nursing faculty shortage. This exploratory study investigated an academic-practice partnership through a summer nursing externship to recruit and mentor clinical preceptors for the clinical educator role. This exploratory longitudinal study examined the success of recruiting and mentoring adjunct clinical educators at a Magnet hospital in the northeast United States. Reflective qualitative survey data from externs, extern faculty, and preceptors in baccalaureate and associate degree prelicensure programs were analyzed. The findings revealed successes and challenges in recruiting and mentoring 21 adjunct faculty. Nursing externships proved to be successful in recruiting and mentoring clinical adjunct faculty. Implementing new models for recruitment and mentoring are essential for the success of nursing programs and the education of students. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(12):728-732.].

The evidence-based practice teaching competence of clinical preceptors at different stages of innovation-decision process: A cross-sectional survey in traditional Chinese medicine hospitals

BackgroundTraditional Chinese Medicine Nursing Clinical Preceptors (TCMN-CPs) are crucial to cultivate undergraduates' evidence-based practice (EBP) competence during clinical practicum in traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) hospitals. However, the TCMN-CPs' EBP teaching competence is unclear. Underpinned by Rogers' innovation-decision process, our study aimed to investigate TCMN-CPs' EBP teaching competence and the related characteristic factors at five stages of knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation and confirmation. MethodsAn online survey was conducted by using a modified evidence-based practice teaching competence questionnaire (EBPT-COQ) encompassing attitude, knowledge/skill and practice of EBP teaching in four TCM teaching hospitals in Beijing, China. ResultsA total of 654 TCMN-CPs were included, with a response rate of 91.47 %. Most TCMN-CPs were in knowledge stage (339, 51.83 %), followed by the persuasion stage (166, 25.38 %), decision stage (123, 18.81 %), implementation stage (23, 3.52 %) and confirmation stage (3, 0.46 %). The total and dimension scores of EBPT-COQ increased as the diffusion stage developing, the confirmation stage was the highest (5.48 ± 0.80). Twenty-three items' mean scores were higher than 4 points (95.83 %), except for “Research skills” (3.58 ± 1.38). The related characteristic factors were 1) age (Z = -4.177), working experience (H = 11.087), clinical teaching experience (H = 12.602), management position (Z = 2.565), research experience (Z = -2.867) and EBP training (Z = 3.146) at Knowledge stage; 2) research experience (ZPersuasion = −2.617; ZDecision = −3.510), EBP training (ZPersuasion = 2.528; ZDecision = 3.433) at Persuasion and Decision stage (all P<0.05). And the first three stages TCMN-CPs' EBPT-COQ scores were positively correlated with TCMN-CPs' attitude toward clinical teaching (r = 0.244–0.331, P<0.001). ConclusionsMost of the TCMN-CPs' EBP teaching status are in the first three diffusion stages. Though their attitude, knowledge/skills and practice to EBP teaching competence have gradually improved with the deepening of the diffusion stage, much efforts should be made to keep progressing. TCMN-CPs' qualifications of EBP teaching could include rich clinical work and teaching experience, enjoying teaching. Nursing managers, with higher EBP teaching competence, might play a crucial role in promoting the diffusion of EBP teaching. All TCMN-CPs showed an inadequacy of research skills of EBP teaching. Therefore, it is warranted to explore the minimum research skill requirements for EBP teaching and to establish academic-practice partnerships.

Creation of an Enhanced Primary Care Registered Nurse Preceptor Role: A Pilot Project

ABSTRACT Historically, community health nursing education has not encompassed clinical sites in primary care. Primary care can be an important domain of community health nursing education. However, student practicum opportunities are limited by the number of and underutilization of RNs practicing at the full scope of their licensure (including assessment, client education, care planning and evaluation of care interventions) who can serve as student preceptors, especially in rural areas. This article describes the creation and implementation of the Enhanced Primary Care Registered Nurse (EPCRN) role in rural primary care clinics, as well as evaluates student perceptions of the EPCRN-precepted clinical experience. One nursing school used a federal training award to create the role of Enhanced Primary Care Registered Nurses (EPCRNs) to practice in federally-designated Rural Health Clinics. The EPCRNs worked in the Rural Health Clinics performing patient care and also functioned as student preceptors. Student experiences were evaluated through quantitative and qualitative methods, namely the Clinical Learning Experience, Supervision, and Nurse Teacher (CLES+T) scale and focus groups. This pilot project demonstrated positive pre-licensure student experience feedback as well as role value and sustainability for the health system. This pilot served as an example of a process for EPCRN role design within a primary care clinic site. It also demonstrated the importance of innovative, sustainable academic-practice partnerships.

The Impact of a Perioperative Elective on Practice Workforce Development: Content Analysis

Developing strategies to educate, employ, and retain newly graduated nurses in perioperative (periop) settings is paramount to addressing a succession crisis with unprecedented vacancy rates. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of a prelicensure periop elective on the decision of participants to seek and accept a periop position upon graduation and to describe their transition to practice experience. This study used qualitative descriptive methodology. Virtual semistructured interviews were conducted in 2021 with 20 recent graduates of an accelerated prelicensure nursing program who completed a periop elective course. Questions focused on if they did or did not seek and accept a periop position upon graduation and, for those who accepted, explored their transition to practice experience. Data were coded using conventional and directed content analyses. Three themes emerged via conventional content analysis: the impact of a prelicensure periop elective, the periop environment, and recommendations for faculty and hiring managers. Concerning directed content analyses, participants used the coping factors of situation, self, support, and strategies to navigate career transitions. A periop elective course delivered through academic-practice partnerships appears to be a successful strategy to address the succession crisis. Graduates were prepared to make informed decisions about entering the periop specialty.

Developing Nurse Practitioners for Hospitalist Roles: Lessons Learned From an Academic Practice Partnership.

Background: There are numerous benefits to academic practice partnerships. While there is great emphasis on the new graduate nurse transition to practice, there is less intention placed on the new nurse practitioner (NP) role transition. In a rural teaching hospital, leadership perceived a need for more support to successfully transition NPs into hospitalist practice roles. Objective: One academic practice partnership developed and implemented a grant-funded program to support advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) transition to practice at a rural teaching hospital. Methods: Informed by the results of a needs assessment, faculty and practice partners delivered lecture content in a face-to-face setting during scheduled hours. Results: Although the content was well received, attendance to and engagement with the program were suboptimal. Conclusions: Upon reflection, the program team gained valuable lessons regarding role expectations, intentional interdisciplinary collaboration, timing, alignment, delivery format, and the need for a dedicated program coordinator. Implications for nursing: APRN transition programs can provide much-needed support with dedicated structure, clear communication, and individualized content. It can also be a recruitment and retention strategy for healthcare organizations.

Exploring stakeholders’ perspectives on the adaptation of the Living Lab approach to dementia care: A qualitative study

Collaborative research can promote knowledge translation and help to link care practice and research. Academic-practice partnerships enable joint research projects in collaboration between care professionals, researchers, patients, and other stakeholders. This qualitative study was conducted during the adaptation phase of the Living Lab Dementia, an academic-practice partnership for collaborative research on long-term dementia care. The aim was to explore stakeholders’ perspectives on linking care practice and research in a sustainable, research-focused partnership. Data were collected in fifteen qualitative interviews with representatives from three stakeholder groups: nursing care professionals, people with dementia, and nursing researchers. Thematic Framework Analysis resulted in five themes: (1) Access, (2) Expectations, (3) Shaping the collaboration, (4) Linking Pins, and (5) Participation. The findings suggest that care professionals expect support in implementing research results into practice. Researchers should take the lead in shaping the collaboration and create opportunities for stakeholders to get involved.

Development of the Harm Prevention Partners Clinical Model: An Academic-Practice Partnership for Prevention of Patient Harm Events.

This innovative academic-practice partnership applied user-centered design, resulting in a new clinical model, the "Harm Prevention Partners Program." The model engaged students working as teams with faculty to intervene on nurse-sensitive indicators by documenting care on a novel smartphone tool and generating an intervention dashboard to visualize impact. Faculty utilized the dashboard to guide postclinical debriefing and highlight students' impact on patient outcomes.

How, and under what contexts, do academic–practice partnerships collaborate to implement healthcare improvement education into preregistration nursing curriculums: a realist review protocol

IntroductionInternationally, healthcare improvement remains a clinical and educational priority. Consensus in Europe, Canada and the USA to implement quality improvement (QI) education into preregistration nursing curricula ensures students become equipped...

Young Nurse Leader Program: Inspiring the Next Generation for Formal Nursing Leadership Roles

Recruitment and retention of strong nurse leaders is essential to our health care delivery system, highlighting a need for early career engagement and mentorship. Combining experiential and didactic learning through an academic–practice partnership facilitated the creation of a 1-year leadership program for prelicensure nursing students, highlighting nursing leadership as a future career specialty. The Young Nurse Leader program combined educational sessions, precepted experiences, and self-reflection to enhance student nurses’ leadership knowledge and skills, while providing professional enrichment of the practicing nurse leaders who precepted, coached, and mentored the students.

Academic and Clinical Nurses’ Perceptions and Experiences on Academic-Practice Partnership in Evidence-Based Practice: An Interpretive Description

Aim. To explore academic and clinical nurses’ perceptions and experiences on academic-practice partnership in evidence-based practice. Background. Academic-practice partnership could promote evidence-based practice which is crucial for high-quality care. Academic and clinical nurses are the foundation of the partnerships; however, there is little knowledge of their perceptions and experiences on academic-practice partnership in evidence-based practice. Methods. This is an interpretive description study. Twenty-two eligible participants were interviewed through face-to-face or online videoconferencing meetings. Guiding questions for the interviews focused on the perceptions and experiences of academic-practice partnership in the context of evidence-based practice. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and checked verbatim. We used constant comparative analysis to analyze the qualitative data. Results. Four themes with fifteen subthemes were generated: necessities, modes, challenges, and benefits of the academic-practice partnership in evidence-based practice. Participants believed that academic-practice partnership was a necessary strategy to promote evidence-based practice and could be built through different modes. Nevertheless, most academic-practice partnerships were superficial because of specific types of challenges. However, a good academic-practice partnership could create a win-win situation for both nursing academia and clinical practice. Conclusion. Academic-practice partnership is a win-win strategy for both the academic side and clinical side to promote evidence-based practice. Different modes of academic-practice partnership provide academic and clinical nurses with more opportunities to promote evidence-based practice with a higher likelihood of successful implementation. However, related challenges require multilevel measures to provide better environments to initiate, build, and maintain intensive collaborations between academic and clinical nurses. Implications for Nursing Management. Academic and clinical organizations, leaders, and individuals should take multilevel measures to initiate, build, and maintain a close academic-practice partnership to promote evidence-based practice, which is crucial for high-quality nursing care, patient safety, and nursing discipline development.