ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: In 2012, the state public health nurse (PHN) Leaders Workgroup formed with members from the state PHN Administrators organization and PHN faculty to facilitate the development of statewide PHN Academic practice partnerships (APP's). In 2016, the workgroup received a state Nurses Foundation grant for $6,000 followed by $5,000 in 2017 to fund the first 2 years of APP projects. DESIGN: The workgroup disseminated two calls for proposals to the Deans of state academic nursing institutions and local health department leaders, utilizing an application adapted from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) APP Toolkit. Selection criteria included project intent; partner support; anticipated outcomes; budget; geographic location; and alignment with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health framework. SAMPLE AND RESULTS: Sixteen proposals were received and reviewed by workgroup members resulting in 10 funded pilot projects. In 2018, the workgroup was awarded $55,980 from the RWJF to expand this initiative; funding an additional 10 APP's to date. Partnerships were reported as valuable by students, faculty, and practice partners. Barriers included provider participation, adherence to project timelines, communication, and the navigation of group dynamics. CONCLUSION: Academic practice partnerships positively impact patient outcomes, patient satisfaction, nursing outcomes, and student learners.
