The “AACN/AONL Academic–Practice Partnership Playbook: From Shared Vision to Action” offers a roadmap for strengthening collaboration between nursing schools and clinical partners — and University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire faculty played key roles in its development.
A joint effort between the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL), the playbook provides practical tools and real-world strategies to help expand nursing school capacity, support new nurse readiness and sustain the healthcare workforce.
Dr. Kristen Abbott-Anderson, dean of the College of Nursing at UW-Eau Claire, served as lead facilitator for Chapter 1, guiding the development of foundational concepts in human-centered care.
Reflecting on her experience, Abbott-Anderson shares, “For me, the most rewarding aspect was gathering a team of academic and practice leaders from across the U.S. and working together to create a cohesive message about keeping human-centeredness at the foundation of all we do. It was so much fun to meet new colleagues in the process!”
She also comments on the significance of the finished resource, noting, “This playbook provides the nuts and bolts for how to start an academic-practice partnership — and some exemplars that have been proven to work. I believe this will be a significant resource for educators and practitioners.”
Dr. Jeanette Olsen, professor of nursing, who contributed to the topic of competency-based education in Chapter 2, reflects on the importance of this national work.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of contributing to the playbook was having the opportunity to collaborate with nurse educators from across the country and witness their commitment to transforming nursing education. It was exciting and validating to share examples from our college — a few of which are featured in the completed work.”
Dr. Meg Lagunas, associate professor of nursing and director of the Clinical Learning Center, served as a contributor to Chapter 5, which focuses on advancing nursing science through research-centered teaching and strong clinical learning environments. She describes her “wow” moment from the process.
“Getting to interact with amazing nurse educators, leaders and researchers from across the nation and hear their success stories was incredible. I was delighted to realize how many different types of partnerships and collaborations are possible — it makes me excited to see what we can accomplish here at UWEC.”
The playbook is structured around five domains from the AACN/AONL Shared Vision for Integrating Nursing Education & Practice:
- Human-centered care
- Competency-based education
- Workforce sustainability
- Innovation
- Advancing nursing science
Together, these domains address the challenges and opportunities shaping modern nursing, creating a shared learning and practice framework for students and healthcare partners.
Inside the playbook, readers will find sample agreements, financial models, shared-metrics worksheets and planning templates that offer organizations practical tools for launching or expanding partnerships. For community healthcare partners, these resources help build clear, sustainable pathways for supporting nursing students while developing a strong future workforce. For students, strong academic–practice partnerships translate into meaningful clinical experiences and a smoother transition into professional practice.
The need for coordinated efforts continues to grow. Nursing programs nationwide face limited clinical capacity, faculty shortages and increasing student interest. Thoughtful, well-designed partnerships ensure that students receive hands-on learning experiences essential for high-quality patient care.
At UW-Eau Claire, the College of Nursing maintains long-standing, collaborative relationships with healthcare organizations throughout the region. The AACN/AONL playbook reinforces and elevates this work, emphasizing shared goals, consistent communication and high-quality clinical learning environments. These collaborations support student success, strengthen the nursing workforce and contribute directly to healthier communities across Wisconsin.
The leadership and contributions of Drs. Abbott-Anderson, Olsen and Lagunas underscore UW-Eau Claire’s commitment to innovation in nursing education — and to preparing future nurses who are ready to meet the evolving needs of the patients and communities they will serve.
Photo caption: Pictured from left are Dr. Kristen Abbott-Anderson, dean of the UW-Eau Claire College of Nursing; Dr. Meg Lagunas, associate professor of nursing and director of the Clinical Learning Center; and Dr. Jeanette Olsen, professor of nursing
Written by Kaylan Petrie, administrative coordinator, UW-Eau Claire College of Nursing.
