A Dedicated Education Unit VA Medical Centers and Baccalaureate Nursing Programs Partnership Model

A shortage of qualified nurse faculty and limitations in the number and variety of available clinical facilities have impacted the ability of schools of nursing to offer quality clinical education. Dedicated education units involving partnerships between academia and clinical agencies have been proposed as 1 solution to these challenges. The purpose of this article is to describe a dedicated education unit model developed in a partnership between 2 Veterans Health Administration Medical Centers and 2 midwestern university schools of nursing. A review of the literature related to dedicated education units is shared. Implementation strategies and benefits to the clinical sites and the schools of nursing are discussed.