Recruiting Nursing Leaders to Advance Interprofessional Education

By Danan Tsan, Vice President, Scott Healy & Associates

As interprofessional education (IPE) becomes an institutional priority in higher education, academic administrators play a critical role in ensuring that nursing leadership aligns with collaborative, team-based learning models. An efficient and thorough leadership search process is essential for identifying nursing leaders who are prepared to advance IPE within academic environments.

For academic administration, an effective search begins with intentional role design. Position descriptions should clearly articulate expectations related to interprofessional collaboration, curriculum integration, and partnership development across colleges and departments. When IPE is embedded as a core leadership competency, search committees are better positioned to evaluate candidates on their ability to navigate academic systems, build consensus, and lead cross-disciplinary initiatives. Structured interviews and evidence-based evaluation tools can help assess a candidate’s experience with shared governance, faculty development, and interprofessional curriculum design.

Efficiency in the academic search process is equally important. Lengthy or disorganized searches risk losing strong candidates who are already engaged in innovative educational leadership. Transparent communication, defined timelines, and administrative support demonstrate institutional commitment and professionalism. A streamlined process also reflects the collaborative values central to IPE, reinforcing the expectation that leaders will work effectively across organizational boundaries.

Finally, inclusive search committees that represent multiple academic disciplines strengthen hiring outcomes. Involving faculty and administrators from medicine, allied health, and other related fields ensures that selected nursing leaders can effectively engage in interprofessional dialogue and academic planning. By implementing efficient, intentional, and inclusive search processes, academic administrators can recruit nursing leaders who are prepared to lead IPE initiatives and support sustainable, collaborative educational environments.

Looking for your next academic leader? Let’s start the conversation.

Danan Tsan, Vice President
Scott Healy & Associates
danan@scotthealy.com