Collaboration projects between nursing education and nursing service: a case study

Collaboration refers to a variety of efforts to blend nursing education and nursing service. A regional planning agency in Southwestern Pennsylvania assumed a strategic role in developing a collaboration action plan which was expressed in three pilot demonstration projects involving an associate degree, a baccalaureate, and a diploma program with their respective service partners. The purpose of this 2 year evaluation case study was to assess the extent to which the three demonstration projects met their stated goals and objectives. The sample was self selected from the pool of nursing education programs and hospitals in the ten county Southwestern Pennsylvania planning region based on willingness to participate and compliance with project criteria. Suchman's model was used as the framework from which to evaluate the projects. Program participants indicated that the project resulted in enhancement of the school-agency relationship, more confident, competent students, and increased enthusiasm among staff who perceived they had a stake in the educational process. This study has implications for nursing practice, education and research. The implementation of well-planned collaboration projects yield many benefits, chief of which is enhanced co-operation between nursing service and nursing education. The benefits are valuable for international colleagues who may be testing out similar approaches in their respective countries.