title: The sum of all parts: an Australian experience in improving clinical partnerships.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create a collaborative partnership between the education provider (University) and the placement provider (Hospital) to facilitate the identification and development of strategies to improve capacity and capability for nursing clinical placements. This partnership was labelled (TULIP) to identify the two partners and it purpose as a learning investment project.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The quality of clinical learning is interdependent on the collaborative clinical health partnerships between Hospital, University, preceptors/facilitators and students. Success is dependent on communication between all key stakeholders within the partnership, to meet capacity and capability demand.
  
  
  METHODS
  Collaborative quality assurance project in combination with two research projects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative and qualitative measurements of student perceptions, preceptor understanding and organisation partnership capacity and capability over a three year period in an acute care hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Qualitative and quantitative data from students and preceptors, and hospital quality assurance data linked to become the TULIP framework for a clinical placement development model that addresses the key components of strategic communication, resourcing and staff acknowledgement between stakeholders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The outcomes achieved demonstrated student engagement, clinical leadership from registered nursing staff, and the establishment of a collaborative partnership between hospital executives and staff, and the university resulting in an increased capacity. The TULIP project has provided both partners with a sustainable plan for growth in student placements, improved strategies to develop clinical leadership practice in individual nurses and a better clinical learning environment for staff that uses a framework that is transferrable to other health settings.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, School of Health Nursing and Midwifery, West Street, Toowoomba. QLD 4350, Australia. Electronic address: melissa.taylor@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, School of Health Nursing and Midwifery, West Street, Toowoomba. QLD 4350, Australia. Electronic address: jillian.brammer@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Jillian D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Brammer
authors.affiliation: Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, Pechey Street, Toowoomba QLD 4350, Australia. Electronic address: Michelle_Cameron@health.qld.gov.au.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.affiliation: University of Southern Queensland, Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, School of Health Nursing and Midwifery, West Street, Toowoomba. QLD 4350, Australia. Electronic address: cheryl.perrin@usq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Perrin
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013338:Students, Nursing
keywords: Capability; Capacity; Clinical placement; Facilitator; Learning environment; Nursing students; Partnerships; Preceptor