The added value of clinical faculty in building effective academic-practice partnerships

Clinical faculty are entrusted with providing high-quality education for nurse practitioner (NP) students while engaging in clinical practice, scholarship, and service. To provide NP students with utmost clinical training and education, clinical faculty should maintain a clinical practice in their area of expertise. The American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties have asserted that nursing faculty providing clinical education must be expert clinicians. The challenge many clinical faculty face is maintaining a practice while balancing the expectations of the faculty role. This article highlights the value of clinical faculty in a large private academic institution as essential members in building partnerships, supporting preceptors, and enhancing NP students' clinical training. A critical aspect of the partnership was the unique role and the added value the clinical faculty member provided in building and expanding community partnerships.