Academic practice partnerships: a national dialogue.

Academic-practice partnerships are an important mechanism to strengthen nursing practice and help nurses become well positioned to lead change and advance health. Through implementing such partnerships, both academic institutions and practice settings will formally address the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine Future of Nursing Committee. Effective partnerships will create systems for nurses to achieve educational and career advancement, prepare nurses of the future to practice and lead, provide mechanisms for lifelong learning, and provide a structure for nurse residency programs.

Expanding an academic-practice partnership.

This article describes an example of an academic-practice partnership between a university-based school of nursing and a multihospital health system that is based on our common past and has grown significantly as we have embraced opportunities for collaboration and innovation. Our primary goals were to enhance the education of students and staff and, ultimately, improve patient care outcomes. These goals were closely aligned with the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine's taskforce on the Future of Nursing for seamless academic progression and improved practice environments.