Four years ago, the Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences embarked on an academic-clinical research partnership that would benefit patients, students and the institutions. Today, the partnership is officially award-winning.
TCU and Children’s Health received the 2025 Exemplary Academic-Practice Partnership Award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
“This partnership with Children’s Health has transformed what’s possible and is a powerful example of academic and clinical excellence coming together for the good of patients and the profession,” Suzy Lockwood, associate dean for nursing and nurse anesthesia in Harris College. “We are so honored to share this award with the expert clinicians and nursing staff at Children’s.”
This national recognition celebrates the expanding and dynamic partnership, which continues to enhance nursing practice, education and pediatric health care in North Texas.
Over the past four years, TCU Nursing and Children’s Health Nursing have created a scalable model in which nurse-driven inquiries, paired with academic expertise, foster a self-sustaining cycle of innovation and advancement. The academic-clinical research partnership began in 2021 with four shared goals:
- Increase nurse-driven research within Children’s Health
- Remove barriers to clinical research for TCU Nursing
- Advance the scholarship of nursing
- Improve pediatric clinical outcomes within Children’s Health
For TCU Nursing, Children’s Health offers a diverse population of patients with complex needs – something the school lacked as a standalone nursing program not embedded within an existing health science center. For Children’s Health nurses, the partnership provides an opportunity to collaborate as co-investigators with academic nurse scientists to pursue relevant research and evidence-based practice questions.
The partnership achieved multiple significant outcomes:
- Received more than $150,000 in internal and external funding for nurse-led research projects on topics including health literacy, pre-operative anxiety and central line management
- 105 nurses engaged with faculty nurse scientists on research studies and projects
- 19 presentations and seven publications, with more underway
- Increased participation by Children’s Health nurses in TCU evidence-based practice fellowship from three to 12 nurses a year
- A thriving mentorship culture that has inspired nurses to pursue graduate education and leadership roles
These efforts have resulted in a measurable impact on patient care as well. From reducing emergency visits and improving health literacy to enhancing safety in airway management, the partnership continues to drive better outcomes for patients and patient families.
Tammy Webb, chief nurse executive, Children’s Health, said the award, presented in November, affirms the impact nursing research has on patient care.
“This work expands our clinical nurses’ impact – what we’re already doing to live out our mission every single day,” she said. “I'm proud to share this recognition with every nurse, faculty member and team member who made it possible.”