Forging today's practice-academic link: a new era for nursing leadership

In rapidly evolving health care scenarios, it is more essential than ever to have nursing viewed as a profession that has its clinical practice and academic arms united. It is necessary to keep schools of nursing entwined with what is evolving clinically and to keep clinical nurses closely involved with trends and issues in contemporary nursing education. To address this need, top nursing leadership must point the way. This article details one such model that was developed at Johns Hopkins, linking the service and education activities through the Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing, a vehicle created for this purpose. Both sides shared a vision, both sides contributed willingly, and both have realized positive returns.