Partners in research: building academic-practice partnerships to educate and mentor advanced practice nurses.
BACKGROUND
Clinical practice is the primary focus of advanced practice nursing (APN) roles. However, with unprecedented needs for health care reform and quality improvement (QI), health care administrators are seeking new ways to utilize all dimensions of APN expertise, especially related to research and evidence-based practice. International studies reveal research as the most underdeveloped and underutilized aspect of these roles.


OBJECTIVE
To improve patient care by strengthening the capacity of advanced practice nurses to integrate research and evidence-based practice activities into their day-to-day practice.


METHODS
An academic-practice partnership was created among hospital-based advanced practice nurses, nurse administrators, and APN researchers to create an innovative approach to educate and mentor advanced practice nurses in conducting point-of-care research, QI, or evidence-based practice projects to improve patient, provider, and/or system outcomes. A practice-based research course was delivered to 2 cohorts of advanced practice nurses using a range of teaching strategies including 1-to-1 academic mentorship. All participants completed self-report surveys before and after course delivery.


RESULTS
Through participation in this initiative, advanced practice nurses enhanced their knowledge, skills, and confidence in the design, implementation, and/or evaluation of research, QI, and evidence-based practice activities.


CONCLUSIONS
Evaluation of this initiative provides evidence of the acceptability and feasibility of academic-practice partnerships to educate and mentor point-of-care providers on how to lead, implement, and integrate research, QI and evidence-based activities into their practices.
Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.|McMaster University, Canadian Centre for APN Research (CCAPNR), Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Patricia
P
Harbman
School of Nursing and Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Canadian Centre for APN Research (CCAPNR), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.|Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Denise
D
Bryant-Lukosius
School of Nursing, Dalhousie, School of Nursing, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Ruth
R
Martin-Misener
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Nancy
N
Carter
Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Christine L
CL
Covell
Ryerson University, Daphne Cockwell School of Nursing, Toronto, ON, Canada.|Canadian Centre for APN Research (CCAPNR), McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Faith
F
Donald
Trillium Health Partners, Mississauga, ON, Canada.
Sharyn
S
Gibbins
Faculty of Nursing, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QB, Canada.
Kelley
K
Kilpatrick
McMaster Health Forum, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
James
J
McKinlay
Advanced Practice Nursing, Cancer Control - Provincial Practices, Alberta Health Services, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Krista
K
Rawson
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Diana
D
Sherifali
School of Nursing, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Joan
J
Tranmer
School of Nursing, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
Ruta
R
Valaitis
D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration; D012106:Research / Q000193:education*; D014495:Universities
academic-practice partnership; advance practice nurse; advanced practice nursing; evidence-based practice; quality improvement; research