Enhancing postgraduate cancer nursing education through effective university-industry partnerships: InsPIRE

Introduction: Creating and sustaining meaningful partnerships between university and industry stakeholders can strengthen workforce capability and improve patient care. Cancer nurses require specialist knowledge and skills in order to deliver optimal care in a complex environment. To further workforce preparation, two large metropolitan cancer health services and a university worked in partnership to lead an academe/industry integration research project in cancer care education.Aim: To develop and implement a transitional cancer care program and evaluate the application of the University-Industry Integration Framework for newly employed nursing staff in cancer services. Methodology: A prospective mixed methods study evaluated the effectiveness of using a University-Industry Integration Framework to develop and deliver a transitional postgraduate cancer nursing education program. A co-design approach leveraged expert stakeholder partnerships to contextualise knowledge and service need, to develop the program. A partnership team and advisory committee led deliverables and governance. A product development working group developed and delivered resources for participants. Results: All participants (n=46) were satisfied (100%) with the online resources, support, and communication processes applied. Qualitative data generated three major analytical interpretations (reciprocity, flexible adaptations, authentic learning), highlighting the experiences and connections and how the partnership evolved. Program participants (n=15) undertook a six-week cancer transitional education program with eight responding to the survey with overwhelming satisfaction (100%), increasing their knowledge and skills. While barriers were evident, three quarters (n=6) indicated these were addressed and enabled progress in the program. However, 63% (n=5) were not satisfied with the program workload. Conclusion: This project demonstrated that university and industry stakeholders can effectively apply the University-Industry Integration Framework and deliver a conjoint transitional postgraduate cancer care education program to assist workforce preparation. This creative education program has enhanced collaborations between partners and led to further funding to continue to develop a sustainable program for state-wide use