Abstract
Rationale: Historical challenges in clinical education were intensified by the global health pandemic. This paper describes how clinical educators in Florida collaborated during the crisis to strategize to meet immediate clinical education needs of clinical sites and academic programs while creating a roadmap for sustainable future success.
Clinical education scenario: A task force of clinical educators was formed to assess the current state of clinical education and manage the evolving crisis. Two unique needs assessments were developed and disseminated to both academic and clinical educators. A descriptive research design was used. Quantitative findings were reported through descriptive statistics.
Outcomes: Obtaining objective data was crucial for decision-making and implementing solutions during this crisis. Data analysis informed a series of coordinated, phased, action items that were implemented. Not only opportunities for immediate support were identified, but also longstanding challenges within clinical education were confirmed. The study results led to informed crisis management, reduced competition, and enduring collaboration.
Discussion and implications: Without collaboration, the pandemic’s impact on clinical education could have been more severe. Implementing data-driven crisis management strategies mitigated challenges posed by the pandemic and improved processes, enhancing the future state of clinical education in Florida.