The ideas in this article arose from discussions between two nurse educators brought together from different professional backgrounds to teach on a new Project 2000 course. It is a frank and honest account of a partnership involving two teachers--a nurse and a sociologist. It is also an illustration of theory-in-use; of an attempt in the workplace to move away from the split between theories in sociology, nursing and education and their practical application. The authors discuss how they worked in partnership--planning, delivering and evaluating their contribution to the course's 18 month long common foundation programme.