AACN-AONE Academic Practice Partnership Task Force
Minutes - November 2-3, 2010
Judy Beal provided a framework for the day and plan for the work. The group discussed
the deliverables. Suggestions included a hallmarks type document and possible Summit.
The deliverable should be something different and active, and make something happen as
opposed to studying and writing about it. Other suggestions included a model, toolkit,
something more than a white paper. Also a conference like a State of the Art conference
highlighting innovations that are out there and things that will take us to the next level.
It was noted that there are wide variation among the schools and the group must look at
both larger and smaller schools. The IOM report should provide the framework. The
recommendations need to be sustainable and something that carries us into the future.
How can we bring partnerships to a new level. Do something different as compared to
what is being done now. This should be how schools of nursing operate and needs to be
built into the infrastructure. The commitment between the partners needs to be part of the
toolkit.
The relationship at the top is essential but it is not sufficient. There needs to be a whole
change in culture. Partnerships should be developed with outcomes.
What are the drivers. How can this be sustainable. Tie to economics, if cost savings then
supports sustainability. Also tie to outcomes of care.
Look at what other organizations are doing. Make sure this task force provides a
different contribution.
Use technology to distribute information – webinars, sharepoints, communities of
practice.
The group developed a definition for an Academic Practice Partnership.
Academic Practice Partnership is a relationship between practice and academia
based on mutual goals, mutual respect and shared knowledge for the purpose of
advancing the profession of nursing and enhancing outcomes of care.
The group reviewed the task force charge and provided comments on each section of the
charge.
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1) Document the historical perspectives on academic-practice partnerships in
the profession of nursing:
- In depth review of literature. This will be an appendix to the document. Martha
Libster, Humboldt University is a dean and nurse historian and offered to assist
with this. Pull out tipping points in our history and what lessons have been
learned.
2) Synthesize the current evidence based literature on academic-practice
partnerships in nursing:
- Focus on evidence based research. No longer than 5 years. Look at other health
care professions. Look at research based descriptions of models and innovations.
- Hire teaching assistants or graduate assistant to do this.
- Can also look at nonhealth care professions and see if anything is applicable, ie.
business, higher education, health administration.
(Judy K and Judy B will talk to their doctoral students – students to do literature
review about academic practice partnerships, in last 5 years in nursing and other
practice professions.)
3) Identify and categorize current academic-practice initiatives and innovations
in nursing and around the world:
- Data should be gathered on this. Survey, focus groups, global models. What is
the common everyday nature of what this is now.
- Offer the definition, what are you doing that fits this definition. Put framework
around this, must be sustained for period of time.
- AACN could send out survey to member deans and ask them to distribute it to 1-2
practice partnerships. AONE and VA could do the same. In long term care can
go through association.
- Minimum toolkit, accredited organization, guiding principles
- What are the innovations
- Develop a set of guiding principles core partnership
- General description this is what is going on and then taking examples of true
innovative practices.
- What do we want to get from survey - academic and practice innovations or just
current initiatives Get this demographically – what level of students do you have.
- AACN research department will provide support for survey.
- AACN members only, AONE, long term care, VA, AHCA and AAHSA,
Association of federal partners and public health services, national association of
health care systems, national assoc of community health centers. Home care and
ambulatory care. When you go to practice partners what area are students
involved. Long term care and community health, hospice. Community health
centers. ASTDN county health departments. VNA.
- This has been approved by IRB. Practice partner. Put this in the letter.
- Academic side and stratify from there.
- Could provide a check list – do you have, is it with an accredited institutions, do
you share resources, how often do you meet. How many do you have. Pick 2
strongest and tell us about them.
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4) Define the characteristics of effective academic-practice partnerships
To gather data about the characteristics of effective partnerships, the task force
discussed the following questions.
- How often do you meet with the partner per year.
- Who is meeting with the academic partners.
- Do you have a personal relationship with this person – power of the personal.
- What is the nature of the relationship – check all that apply.
- Question about joint appointments, joint grant writing, cull this list from the
literature.
- First question, affiliation with accredited program, define program.
- They will be sent to chief nurse which may or not be the nurse executive. Are
you the chief executive. One response per facility.
- 9 Hartford centers, small group of long term care facilities.
- Friday enews – have something innovative that fits these criteria then click on this
link to get to the survey.
- Send out to AACN deans and have them send it to 1-2 practice partners. Post to
other organizations website. Perhaps do phone interview to get more in depth.
Focus Groups
Have focus groups at a variety of conferences. What would the best model look like.
What are you doing – academic/practice partnerships – what are the facilitators and
barriers to partnerships,
- Doctoral Conference
- AONE Conference – April 13-16, 2011
- February San Antonio, Long Term Care Conference – 15 nurse executives during that
meeting. Get Eileen Breslin to go to that.
- Chicago – Assoc of community health nursing educators
- Sigma Conference
Should we look at our interprofessional partners? Perhaps wait until the literature review
is complete and see if 1-2 groups stand out.
Agenda for Wednesday:
Guiding principles
Broad categories for survey questions
Focus group questions – dream questions and international folks
Additional funding sources
Other disciplines – physicians, pharmacy, physical therapy. Good models of
partnerships.
Examples of academic practice partnerships.
Timeline for after July 2011.
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Academic Practice Partnership Meeting
October 2010
ACTION ITEMS
WHO DATE
Contact Martha Libster to discuss tipping points that have defined
nursing
JB
Ask TAs and doctoral students to do evidence based literature review
JB,JK 1-11
Next conference call – Di Fang, Martha Libster on call
(look at 11/29 at 11/30)
JA
Formatting focus group questions
AAW 11-23
Finalize dates for focus groups by next conference call
(submit dates to JA)
ALL
11-10
Organize focus groups – agenda item next conference call
GANES (December 9-11, 2010)
Doctoral Conference (January 26-29, 2011)
Long Term Care Conference (February 16, San Antonio)
AONE Meeting (April 13, San Diego)
AACN March Meeting (April 13, San Diego)
Public Health Meeting (June Chicago)
Other to due by conference call
Linda E – contact magnet hospitals – international magnet facilities to
get copy of survey
Talk to RWJ funding potential (Polly, Judy)
IRB submission and approval
JB
1-15-11
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Timeline:
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October/November/December – Literature Reviews
Late January – Send Survey out
Due Date Data – Late February
Data analysis – March 15 to task force
March 22-23 – TF meets, interpret data and develop toolkit
After March 23 – dissemination and funding plans
Major decisions made:
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Developed definition for academic practice partnerships
Made a decision about deliverable – guiding principles, toolkit
Decisions how we will get information – surveys, focus groups and targeted
phone interviews
Decided on sampling technique
Send to all AACN deans and provide other groups with link to survey - deans will
identify 1-2 partners
Began to discuss survey and focus group questions that will be framed by IOM
report
Frame discussion around IOM 8 recommendations
Developed timeline
Discussion about dissemination and future funding
Agenda:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Review work done on day one
Develop key guiding principles
Survey questions
Focus group questions
Discuss potential funding sources and plans for dissemination
Establish date for conference call
Agenda for conference call in late November – 11/29 or 11/30
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Wednesday, November 3, 2010
The task force reviewed the action items and decisions made on Tuesday. Bullet item 3
wording is changed to read “in nursing and around the world.” It was noted that the
survey should go out earlier in January.
Guiding Principles
The relationship must occur at multiple levels and meetings must occur at regular
intervals. Partners establish and evaluate mutual goals – meet at least annually to
evaluate. The partners have an open collaborative relationship.
The guiding principles can be modeled from those done by AONE. The task force agreed
to establish a Community of Practice with CNOs. The group was open to further
discussion about AACN /AONE joint conference.
Brainstorm Ideas – Flip Charts
Mutual Goals:
Articulation of Mutual Vision and Goals, Purpose, Benefits
- Multifaceted (scholarship, education of students and staff, practice) – research, clinical
affiliations, scope varies
(the relationship includes a minimum of one of these)
- There has to be a discussion of each organizations bigger vision and strategic plan to
establish a connection and synergy.
- Lead innovations
- Need to make the business case to demonstrate measure the effectiveness and
sustainability of the partnership (sharing outcomes report jointly, take responsibility for
successes and failures)
- outcomes of graduates
- quality of faculty
- decreased costs and increased retention
- Dialogue must occur between education and practice leaders on how to reach BSN and
post doctoral level education goals of IOM
- Need to have the difficult dialogue regarding differentiation.
Articulation of Mutual Vision and Expectations:
- Annual goals mutually developed with a set evaluation time period.
- Chief nurse executive needs to know what SON is in the house
- accreditation status, perks, etc.
- level of students
- contract must be in place
- Integration of technology
- Nurse manager needs to know level, objectives of students
- Open dialogue and shared knowledge at all levels
- Dean and CNO need to set stage for relationship (vision goals direction)
- Scope of RN and APN practice
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- Shared governance (sit on each others advisory boards and curriculum committees)
- Shared decision making
- Scope clarified and shared
- Culture of mutual respect and recognition
- Trust and respect
- Increase formality of the relationships at all levels (
- Evaluate joint shared opportunities for instructors and staff
(teacher practitioner model, joint appointments)
- All of these are grounded in the concept of a 2 way street.
- Culture of mutual respect
- share governance (transparency)
- scope
- shared decision making, vision
- interprofessional collaboration
Shared Knowledge:
- Hospitals are responsible for keeping SONS up to date on regulation, legislation, policy,
reimbursement.
- Partnerships must focus on life long learning for staff and faculty.
- Need to leverage competencies from practice to education
- Interprofessional education
- Access to knowledge
- Leverage competencies (residency programs, EBP, prep for certification)
- Partners need to strategize on how to educate nurses with the interprofessional
team/promote interprofessional collaboration
- Residency - Partners need to dialogue around issues of transition and practice with a
focus on nurse residency programs, student externships, CAN positions, consortia
programs (jointly taught, credit bearing) 15 weeks – 40 week as student and 15 weeks
residency.
- Lifelong learning is critical to advancement of profession and outcomes of care –
articulation agreements for RN-BS, RN-MS, BS/MS=doctorate are good ways to do this.
- EBP is essential to the advancement of the profession and the outcomes of care,
Partners need to strategize.
- Access to information for practice education is essential.
- SONs offering prep courses for national certification.
IOM Recommendations (mutual trust essentials for all recommendations)
1. Scope of practice (goals and shared knowledge)
2. Expand opportunities for nurses to lead collaboration (goals)
3. Residency programs (shared knowledge)
4. BSN to 80% (goals and shared knowledge)
5. Double the number of nurses with doctorate (goals and shared knowledge)
6. Lifelong learning – shared knowledge – (need to make the business case)
7. Lead change and advance health (shared knowledge)
8. Infrastructure to collect data (goals)
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Survey
Pick one best partnership.
1) Does your partnership have mutual goals and objectives?
2) Is this an informal or formal partnership?
3) Do you meet and establish mutual goals and outcomes on a regular basis?
4) Do you have partnerships goals in the areas of scholarship, clinical affiliations,
practice?
5) Do you collect data on impact of the partnership? If yes, what data do you collect – on
impact of partnership.
(hiring of students, NCLEX pass rates, retention rates of new grads, joint practice
innovations, joint publications, presentations, grants)
Demographic questions – put at the end of survey
Are you magnet? Or on a journey to magnet?
How many health care affiliations do you have just in general?
How many students?
What level of preparation are you doing at that facility?
Title of respondent, education level of respondent
Types of programs – academic and in facility
Specific hiring policies
Are you unionized?
Is your school unionized?
Tenure in the position
The Conference Call is confirmed for Tuesday, November 30 at 5:30 pm eastern time.
Draft agenda for call:
1. Update on literature review – JB, JK
2. Update on Martha – JB, JH
3. Review Guiding Principles – JB, JH
4. Review Survey Questions – JE, SS, IF
5. Review Focus Questions – JK, AAW
6. Letter/International – LE
7. Funding Update – JB
8. Finalize Focus Group Venues – All
9. Next Steps
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