Communities of Practice: An Innovative Approach to Building Academic–Practice Partnerships

• Published in: Journal for nurse practitioners Vol. 16; no. 4; pp. 308 - 311
• Main Authors: Padilla, Blanca Iris, Kreider, Kathryn Evans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Elsevier Inc 01.04.2020; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: academic–practice partnerships; Clinical medicine; Clinical nursing; Clinical training; Collaboration; Communities of Practice; Community health care; Community-based programs; Diabetes; Evidence-based nursing; Knowledge; Learning; Meetings; NP clinical education; Nurse practitioners; Nursing education; Nursing schools; Partnerships; Preceptors; Primary care; Private schools; Professional practice; Recruitment; Students; Workforce; NP clinical education; academic–practice partnerships; preceptors; Communities of Practice
• ISSN: 1555-4155; 1878-058X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.01.017

Schools of nursing continue to face challenges in securing clinical education for nurse practitioner (NP) students. Creating mechanisms to build and enhance academic–practice partnerships between nursing schools and clinical practice settings based on mutual goals and respect provides opportunities for both nurse practitioner students and clinical partners. This article describes how an academic–practice partnership was established using the Communities of Practice as a framework. The project outcome was successful in many ways, including recruiting and enhancing preceptors and creating opportunities for NP students to learn about community-based health care and practice in underserved primary care practice. •Academic–practice partnerships should be intentional and based on mutual goals.•The Communities of Practice model is a social-organizational structure that offers a promising approach for engaging community partners.•A dedicated preceptor website can provide clinicians with information on clinical teaching and best practice.•Continuous communications with leadership before and during the establishment of the partnership is key to sustainability.•Academic–practice partnerships can provide nurse practitioner students with a meaningful learning experience.