Clinical-academic partnerships research: converting the rhetoric into reality.
An increasing recognition of the importance of research-based practice to the nursing profession has led to a number of strategies designed to increase the utilization and conduct of nursing research. The transfer of nursing education from hospitals to universities occurred partly in response to the identified theory-practice gap. Subsequently, a significant investment in joint clinical-academic positions and clinical professorial positions has been made with the intention of bridging the gap between the tertiary sector and the clinical field. Anecdotal evidence suggests that neither strategy has achieved the desired degree of success. The available literature suggests that nurses do not tend to become involved in the conduct of research, nor do they readily utilise research findings in their practice. It is hypothesized in this paper that this reflects the strong cultural differences between the clinical and academic worlds in nursing. The aim of this paper is to discuss the impact of these cultural differences and describe specific principals that could contribute to significant cultural change and the bridging of the academic-clinician divide.
Happell
Brenda
B
Centre, for Psychiatric Nursing and Practice, School of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. b.happell@nursing.unimelb.edu.au
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000458:organization & administration; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005181:Faculty, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009734:Nursing Faculty Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D009742:Nursing Theory; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration