title: Implementing a collaborative framework for academic support for registered nurses.
abstract: This paper describes the collaboration between a national health service acute hospital trust and a higher education institution, to implement a framework for academic support for registered nurses undertaking learning beyond registration. A small percentage of the educational budget was utilised to fund two academic staff (0.6 whole time equivalent) to work within the trusts' own learning and development department. The initial aim of the project was to maximise the utilisation of the funding available for learning beyond registration study. The focus of the project was at both a strategic level and with individual staff. Embedding within the culture of the trust was important for the academic staff to understand and gain the service/user perspective to some of the barriers or issues concerning learning beyond registration. Following a scoping exercise, the multiplicity of issues that required action led to the creation of an academic support framework. This framework identified potential for intervention in 4 phases: planning for study, application and access to learning, during study and outcome of study. Interventions were identified that were complimentary and adjuncts to the academic support provided by the higher education institution. New resources and services were also developed such as pathway planning support and study skill workshops. One important resource was a dedicated point of contact for staff. A "live" database also proved useful in tracking and following-up students.
authors: Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth, PO6 3LY, United Kingdom.
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Elliott
authors: Debra
authors: D
authors: Ugboma
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Knight
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D009726:Nurses; D015279:Organizational Culture; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013222:State Medicine
keywords: Collaboration; Continuing education; Learning beyond registration; Study methods