Interorganisational partnership arrangements: a new model for nursing and midwifery education.

INTRODUCTION This paper describes a framework to facilitate collaboration between hospitals and third level universities and colleges in Ireland. The move to higher education for nurses and midwives in Europe heralded the development of partnership between organisations that provide nursing education. There is an increased risk of exacerbation of the 'theory-practice gap' phenomenon. Hence the need for greater unity between education and practice is paramount. METHODS The study included five organisations involved in nursing and midwifery education. An action research case study approach was used. This paper reports on the cooperative inquiry element of the study. RESULTS Seven key elements of a framework for interorganisatinal partnership emerged; Context, Environment, Inputs, Processes, Skills, Outcomes, Role of Coordinator. The framework was found to have a key role to integrating nursing education. DISCUSSION Leading and managing nursing education for the future requires support from clinical and academic partners. These knowledge domains need to move forward together to ensure success. CONCLUSIONS Responsibility for leading and managing nursing education requires a framework to engage the support of the clinical and academic partners. Implementation of partnership frameworks is critical to ensuring responsiveness of nursing and midwifery education to students' learning and patient care.