Faculty practice in joint appointments: implications for nursing staff development

Faculty joint appointments can capitalize on the talents and unique knowledge of nurses in varied settings. Altered role expectations, recurring emphases on cost control, and demands for accountability in the transforming health care system urge academic nursing faculty and clinically-based nurses to work together to achieve requisite health care and educational outcomes. This article addresses the types of faculty practice models, discusses three major role types of joint appointments, and presents the benefits and challenges of faculty functioning in joint appointments. Implications for nursing staff development are examined.