Partnership--success factors of interorganizational relationships.

AIM: Key factors of successful interorganizational partnerships are applied to the context of nursing and midwifery education.
BACKGROUND: Reports in nursing education emphasize the need for more collaborative partnerships between the education and healthcare sectors of nursing and midwifery education. EVALUATION: There is little research examining the implementation of interorganizational relationships particularly in nursing. KEY ISSUES: Key success factors are grouped into seven areas of trust and valuing the partner, leadership and managing change, a partnership framework, communication and interaction, equity and involvement in decision making, power and the role of partnership coordinator.
CONCLUSION: There is a need for contextual research in relation to implementing partnership in nursing and midwifery. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Partnership arrangements are essential for quality nursing and midwifery education. This article adds knowledge by way of application of these factors to organizations that provide nursing and midwifery education. Nurse managers have an important role in determining the quality of learning experience within the health service. It is essential, therefore that both nurse managers and nurse educationalist know the key factors which promote successful interoganizational relationships to ensure these factors are manifest in practice.