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Table 2 Critical elements: implementation activities and outputs for increasing student enrollment

From: The critical elements of effective academic-practice partnerships: a framework derived from the Department of Veterans Affairs Nursing Academy

Critical element

Indicators of success

Indicators of challenge

Activities

Generate interest in VA clinical placements amongst students

In sites where students select clinical placements, VA representatives provided engaging presentations regarding the benefits of interning at the VA

Disgruntled students placed at VA for clinical rotations; Concerns raised about being placed in an older, predominately male environment

Place students on VAMC units

Processing of students through human resources (HR) at VAMC went smoothly and usually occurred prior to first day of clinical placements

Student placements on VA units were delayed, often until late in the first semester, due to lack of anticipation of cumbersome VA HR policy requirements

[Indicator of partial success] Students often spent their initial clinical placement day or days completing HR processes and orienting to the VAMC

Outputs

Increase undergraduate student enrollment

All or nearly all of increased student enrollment quotas (per grant requirements) were met by the beginning of the first school year

Enrollment quotas were not met by end of first year

Significant logistical hurdles were encountered in orienting students into newly offered curriculum

[Indicator of partial success] Increased student quotas were met, but enrollments were made into a newly offered curriculum (e.g., 12-month accelerated program) that often still had unresolved logistical hurdles

Increased student satisfaction with participation

High levels of student satisfaction were measured in VNEP surveys

High levels of student dissatisfaction were measured in VNEP surveys

Students often competed for slots in programs where the option to have all clinical placements at the VAMC (except pediatrics and obstetrics) was offered

Students were required to have all clinical placements (except pediatrics and obstetrics) at the VAMC without a choice of healthcare facilities