Since the 17th century, nurses have partnered with others including religious institutions, university and college medical and nursing programs, physicians, hospitals, the government, and each other to provide nursing care and education. A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests (http://www.uberstudent.org/mod/ resource/view.php?id=27). For much of the past century and mostly due to competition, the American health care system has evolved into "partnerless" arrangements that include "a vast array of semi-autonomous professional practices, provider organizations, and payment mechanisms" (O'Neil, 2011, p. 1). The concept of "working together" did not seem to be working.
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