Bonnie Carlin, MSN, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor, has been recognized with the UF Health Shands Rose Rivers Chrysalis Award for Evolving Research for her project, “Health System and Academic Partnerships-The APU Model.” Carlin has served as the faculty coordinator for the Academic Partnership Unit (APU)–a new and innovative model of clinical education that has been piloted with the College of Nursing in conjunction with UF Health.
In her role, Carlin has her students placed in clinical units at UF Health Shands and regularly visits each of these units to assess their progress and offer guidance and assistance to the UF Health clinical instructors. In addition, she developed and refined a clinical orientation program for which the nurses who serve as clinical instructors are awarded continuing education units. Carlin meets regularly with hospital staff and administration at the beginning and end of each semester to ensure issues and concerns are addressed and the evolving partnership is a benefit to both the College and UF Health.