The experience of faculty practice: developing and evaluating a newly established program.
While the notion of faculty practice, that is clinical practice by an academic in a health service environment, is not new, Australian Universities have been slow in providing practice environments where academics' theoretical understanding is informed through the service environment. Although there is a plethora of published academic opinion on the benefits, there is a dearth of meaningful data describing the subjective experience of academics that participate in faculty practice. Developing an understanding of the issues academics experience, while on faculty practice, provides a vital opportunity for those seeking to adopt a faculty practice model in their institution. The paper describes the genesis of the faculty practice program and outlines both the benefits and challenges that were encountered during implementation. A program evaluation conducted by an independent consultant indicated that all faculty practice participants found the process to be empowering and revitalising, despite their initial apprehension. The personal and professional gains achieved while on faculty practice were considered to compensate for the additional workload involved. The immediate dividends of enhanced self-esteem, classroom practices and credibility with students for faculty practice participants were outcomes achieved.
Shuttleworth
Caron
C
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine, Faculty of Computing, Health and Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Rudd
Cobie J
CJ
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine, Faculty of Computing, Health and Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Smith
Peter
P
Thirdforce Consultancy Services, Box 8110 Subiaco East, WA 6008, Australia.
Combs
Shane
S
Joondalup Health Campus, Shenton Avenue, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
Wain
Toni
T
Systems and Intervention Research Centre for Health, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine, Faculty of Computing, Health and Science, Edith Cowan University, 100 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015402:Nursing Education Research / Q000379:methods*; D009734:Nursing Faculty Practice / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014904:Western Australia; D016526:Workload