Joint appointments: another dimension to building bridges.

For many years nurse education has been under close scrutiny, with particular focus on the links between what is taught in the classroom and what is practised. Since the onset of the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing and Midwifery's Project 2000: A new preparation for practice, concerns have been raised over the potential for an even greater gap between theory and practice. Within this concept, the development of joint appointments between education and service providers has been an issue of much debate within the nursing profession in recent years. This paper explores the complexity of the role and shares the writer's personal experiences as a joint appointee between University College Worcester and Worcester Royal Infirmary NHS Trust. The issues discussed demonstrate how by supporting nurses in their development of practice, research, policy and teaching, joint appointments can contribute directly and indirectly to providing a first class nursing service for patients.