TY - JOUR
AU - C. Ketel
AU - J. Tapp
AU - S. Cole
AU - M. L. Pfieffer
AU - R. Vick
AU - V. Gardner
AU - C. Pitts
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Rural and underserved communities face persistent shortages of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), limiting access to high-quality care. Academic-Practice Partnerships (APPs) offer a strategy to build workforce readiness. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of an enhanced APP model on FNP learners' practice confidence and employment outcomes in underserved settings. METHODS: Using a longitudinal, repeated-measures design, 33 FNP learners completed assessments at baseline, program completion, and 1-year post-graduation. Surveys measured confidence across 6 domains. RESULTS: Practice confidence significantly increased across all domains post-program (P < .001), with sustained gains at one year. Behavioral health and pharmacology showed initial surges followed by slight declines. One year after graduation, 63.6% remained at APP partner sites and 48.5% worked in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced APP models effectively build and sustain FNP practice confidence and retention in high-need settings, though continued post-graduation support is warranted.
AD - Author Affiliations: University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing, Birmingham, Alabama (Dr Ketel); Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, Nashville, Tennessee (Drs Tapp, Cole, Pfieffer, and Vick); and Emory University, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Atlanta, Georgia (Dr Pitts).
AN - 41717906
BT - Nurse Educ
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 2
DA - Mar-Apr 01
DO - 10.1097/nne.0000000000002044
DP - NLM
ET - 20251105
IS - 2
JF - Nurse Educ
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Rural and underserved communities face persistent shortages of Family Nurse Practitioners (FNPs), limiting access to high-quality care. Academic-Practice Partnerships (APPs) offer a strategy to build workforce readiness. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the effects of an enhanced APP model on FNP learners' practice confidence and employment outcomes in underserved settings. METHODS: Using a longitudinal, repeated-measures design, 33 FNP learners completed assessments at baseline, program completion, and 1-year post-graduation. Surveys measured confidence across 6 domains. RESULTS: Practice confidence significantly increased across all domains post-program (P < .001), with sustained gains at one year. Behavioral health and pharmacology showed initial surges followed by slight declines. One year after graduation, 63.6% remained at APP partner sites and 48.5% worked in rural areas. CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced APP models effectively build and sustain FNP practice confidence and retention in high-need settings, though continued post-graduation support is warranted.
PY - 2026
SN - 0363-3624
SP - 92
EP - 96+
ST - Strengthening Workforce Readiness Through Enhanced Academic-Practice Partnerships: Longitudinal Outcomes of Family Nurse Practitioner Confidence and Retention
T1 - Strengthening Workforce Readiness Through Enhanced Academic-Practice Partnerships: Longitudinal Outcomes of Family Nurse Practitioner Confidence and Retention
T2 - Nurse Educ
TI - Strengthening Workforce Readiness Through Enhanced Academic-Practice Partnerships: Longitudinal Outcomes of Family Nurse Practitioner Confidence and Retention
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1097/nne.0000000000002044
VL - 51
VO - 0363-3624
Y1 - 2026
ER -