AN APPLICATION OF NURSING FACULTY PRACTICE - CLINICAL CAMPS

The incorporation of clinical practice into nursing faculty role expec tations has triggered much debate. Despite the urge for the incorporat ion of practice into faculty roles, past research has demonstrated tha t the majority of faculties do not in fact include clinical practice. Reasons given for the failure of nurse academics to practise include l ack of time, the failure of academia to value the practice, and the fa ilure to include the practice as criteria for tenure and promotion. Fo r faculty practice to occur it has been argued that clinical practice needs to be more a matter of individual intent: adaptable, and creativ e. Clinical camps provide potential opportunities for clinical practic e for faculties. These camps, it is argued, offer the possibility of c linical teaching, promotion of collegial relationships between faculty and health care agencies, development of positive faculty-student rel ationships, and a valuable research site. For this reason, it is argue d that clinical camps be considered a viable venue for faculty practic e.