Faculty Recruitment and Engagement in Academic-Practice Partnerships

AIM This study examines how prior teaching experience and academic training are associated with teaching roles, level of desired support, and satisfaction with the VA Nursing Academy (VANA). BACKGROUND In 2007, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created VANA, funding partnerships between schools of nursing and VA health care facilities, in response to projections for a severe shortage of registered nurses. METHOD We conducted annual surveys with nurse faculty from partnership sites in 2011 (n = 133) and 2012 (n = 74). RESULTS Faculty reporting that VANA provided the right amount of support for curriculum development (p = .03) and teaching (p = .02) were more likely to report being very satisfied with VANA overall than those who did not. CONCLUSION Models of academic-clinical partnerships that expand faculty can be successful. It is important that inexperienced faculty have training and support as they take on new teaching roles.