Best practices initiative: nurturing partnerships that promote change

As the science of nursing continues to evolve, efforts to develop strategies to integrate nursing research into clinical practice are increasing. To address the gap between research findings and the use of these findings to improve practice, Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing established the Best Practices Initiative in conjunction with three clinical partners, all in the Pacific Northwest: a large Veterans Affairs medical center, a large health maintenance organization, and a state agency that oversees health care for older adults. This article presents the Best Practices Initiative Partnership Model, some of the lessons learned about partnering with clinical agencies, and an overview of the projects that involved each partner.