Engaging transformation: Constructing a new model for nursing education and practice

A rapidly changing health care environment is forcing nursing leadership to examine the efficacy of nursing education and the relevance of current practice models. Competencies once thought essential to good nursing practice are less valued today. As a result, veteran nurses experience bewilderment and frustration regarding their job expectations, knowledge base, and work role. Remedying this situation calls for creating new models of nursing education and strong linkages between education and professional practice. One Dayton, Ohio, hospital has taken bold steps toward these goals by establishing an onsite university based on innovative partnerships with area nursing schools. The continuous learning opportunities offered by the university have not only bolstered nursing job satisfaction but also have helped the hospital make a strong impression in its highly competitive service area.