Learning Objective #1: 1. Describe how a collaborative relationship can be developed between a nursing corporation and an institute of higher education.

Learning Objective #2: List three advantages of a collaborative relationship between a nursing corporation and an institute of higher education.

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In the Spring of 2004, Texas Health Resources (THR), a 13 hospital, not-for-profit Corporation in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas area, developed a collabortive relationship with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) to provide nursing administration graduate education to nurses employed by THR. This collaboration allowed for nurses within all THR hospitals to attend graduate classes in nursing administration where they worked! THR also funded graduate faculty positions for nurses who were MSN prepared to serve as site coordinators at the two flagships hospitals (Harris Methodist Fort Worth and Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas). Not only did these groups of students form collaborative relationships with fellow students that would last far beyond graduate scool, but they were able to attend classes with their work colleagues. A serendipitous benefit was that THR was able to sugsequently hire a number of the nursing adminstration graduates into vacant management positions since those students were impressed with the learning atmosphere and culture expressed by THR.

This collaboration would not have been possible without the monies obtained from a Health Resources and Services Adminsitration (HRSA) grant which allowed THR to purchase equipment for synchronous learning for both UTA and THR. THR was able to develop and build an "E-Classroom" which has served as a model for other hospital corporations and educational entities withint eh Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area.

Cound this model be used world-wide? Absolutely! All that would be necessary would be a master's prepared faculty member and a means to connect to the already present synchronous learning technology.