Academic-clinical nursing partnership use an evidence-based practice model

The purpose of this study was to compare the experience of a new clinical model with traditional clinical teaching and examine the effects of evidence-based practice strategies among staff and student nurses.

This provides an innovative approach to nursing student clinical learning that emphasised the academic-clinical partnership with the use of a new model called the Evidence-based Clinical Academic Partnership (ECAP) model. The model incorporates three main components (a) unit transformation into an innovative hybrid version of a dedicated education unit (hDEU); (b) Evidence-in-Action (EIA) rounding; and (c) the cognitive apprenticeship theoretical framework.

This pilot study used a mixed-method, quasi-experimental design.

The quantitative portion included a pre-test, post-test non-randomised quasi-experimental design using self-reported survey data. The qualitative methodology used was a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to data interpretation of three focus groups with staff nurses and unit leaders. SQUIRE 2.0 guidelines were followed (Ogrinc et al., 2016).

The themes that emerged emphasised relationships and the partnership with this innovative approach to clinical teaching. The staff nurses emphasised the need for a collaborative approach and having the presence of the academic faculty member as a way to support the teaching and learning aspects with students.

This study did provide significant contributions to the development of an innovative clinical model and highlighted the importance of the academic-clinical partnership with the education of undergraduate nursing students. The study results provided insight to the ways the hDEU framework may be strengthened, such as increased communication and partnership in the implementation of the ECAP model. Implementing curricular change to include innovative clinical models within a nursing programme is vital in this time of healthcare transformation.