Partnership in Education: An Example of Client and Educator Collaboration

This article describes one education strategy designed to assist nursing staff in the process of "learning to surrender" the service providers' need to direct client decision-making. Using the health promotion principle of "client as expert," a nurse educator and a client with advanced multiple sclerosis co-present an inservice class about the importance of personal empowerment and environmental mastery for maintaining physical and psychological well-being in the face of a chronic disorder. This collaborative strategy provided the client a forum from which to share his personal experience and professional knowledge to influence attitudes and provide valuable information to nursing staff in a long-term care facility. Collaborating with the client to bring information to nursing staff is one means to foster a climate of client empowerment, influence staff perceptions and communicate the unique experiences of the client.