Developing and Implementing a Nursing Research Team in a Clinical Setting

Describing the evidence-base for research engagement by health care providers and health care organisations: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

Having a research-engaged health and medical workforce is associated with improvements in clinical outcomes for patients. As such, there has been significant government investment internationally to support health care organisations and services to increase staff engagement with research.

OBJECTIVES

This scoping review sought to provide an overview of the literature describing strategies employed to increase research engagement by health care providers and organisations, and to undertake a qualitative analysis to generate a list of research engagement strategies.

METHODS

A scoping review using systematic search strategies was undertaken to locate peer-review publications and grey literature related to research engagement by health care providers and organisations. Research engagement was defined as a 'deliberate set of intellectual and practical activities undertaken by health care staff and organisations to conduct research'. A database search of electronic records was performed with no limit on publication date. Publications were included regardless of study type (excluding systematic reviews) and categorised as either databased (presenting data or new analysis of existing data) and non-databased (no new data or analyses). Databased publications were further classified according to study type, study design and setting. A qualitative synthesis using a Framework Approach was undertaken with all studies that described a strategy to improve research engagement.

RESULTS

A total of 152 publications were included in this study with 54% categorised as non-databased. Of the databased articles, the majority (72%) were descriptive studies describing prevalence of correlates of research engagement, 17 (25%) described intervention studies where only two were controlled studies. The following research engagement strategies were identified: i) dual skilled team/staff, ii) resources or physical infrastructure, iii) incentives, iv) leadership support of research, v) education/training, vi) networks, vii) forming partnerships or collaborations and viii) overall leadership structure of entity.

CONCLUSIONS

The literature on research engagement is primarily opinion-based and descriptive in nature. To provide the evidence needed to inform strategies, this needs to progress beyond descriptive to more rigorous well-designed intervention research.

A scoping review of outcomes of operational success for nurse scientists in clinical practice settings

BACKGROUND

The nurse scientist in the clinical setting is a role that has evolved over recent decades to encompass the concomitant development of personal research programs and the facilitation of staff and advanced practice nurse research in health care settings. However, the definition, operationalization, and measures of success are extremely variable.

PURPOSE

To identify the defining features and characteristics of the nurse scientist role in clinical practice settings as represented in the existing literature.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review using PubMed and CINAHL databases. We initially identified a total of 3345 references from 1976 to June 2020, 217 of which were published from 2005-2020. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) framework to explore the state of the science of the role of nurse scientists in practice settings.

DISCUSSION

Approximately 100 articles met the criteria for full-text analysis, and the final review consisted of 20 descriptive analytic studies addressing the nurse scientist role definition, operationalization, and outcome measures.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that nurse scientist roles serve to promote health system success through a host of research-focused activities that conceivably contribute to improved patient care outcomes. Work is needed to support the cost of requisite resources and infrastructure and to increase acceptance of the role as part of a tenure-earning track in academic settings that also stand to benefit.

Nursing science fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital

INTRODUCTION

Clinical inquiry is vital to safeguard nursing practice and ensure optimal outcomes for our patients and families. The innovative Nursing Science Fellowship (NSF) was developed to provide structured mentorship for pediatric nurses by nurse scientists to design and conduct clinical inquiry generated from their practice.

METHODS

Each fellow is paired with a nurse scientist mentor to receive support for timely project completion. Dedicated mentors guide the immersion of fellows in nursing science by providing them with didactic content detailing the process of clinical inquiry and bi-monthly one-on-one mentorship sessions. Throughout their journey, fellows learn the appropriate method by which to address their clinical inquiry question and complete a scholarly project that contributes to the science of nursing. On a quarterly basis, fellows share their progress and achievements with peers, mentors, and senior leadership.

RESULTS

Since 2011, 84 fellows have enrolled in this two-year program. Sixty-two nurses have graduated from the NSF and 22 fellows are currently active. Collectively, the fellows have received 46 grants to support their projects. Twenty-one fellows have received promotions and 22 fellows have furthered their education in a masters, clinical or research doctorate program. There have been 78 external disseminations highlighting their clinical inquiry work, including poster and podium presentations and peer-reviewed published manuscripts. Lastly, there have been 26 new or updated clinical practices implemented across the enterprise as a result of completed projects.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined these efforts have ensured a sustained commitment to advancing the science and practice of pediatric nursing.

Description of Nurse Scientists in a Large Health Care System

Replicating a research study that described the work of nurse scientists in children's hospitals, the purpose of the study was to describe the role, activities, and outcomes of nurse scientists employed in a national health care organization. The characteristics of nurses filling the nurse scientist role in clinical settings and outcomes associated with the role have not been extensively described. The setting of this study is ideal since the organization includes facilities of various sizes located in rural, urban, and suburban areas in 18 states. Names and contact information of nurse scientists were obtained from nurse executives at each of the 110 affiliated organizations. Nurse scientists completed an anonymous survey. The primary role of the nurse scientists is to facilitate the work of others. Recommendations to strengthen the research infrastructure are provided.

Second Life simulation as a strategy to enhance decision-making in diabetes care: a case study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The case study evaluated the Second Life perceived usability and the decision-making of insulin administration via situational awareness at two different simulation freezes during Second Life simulation.

BACKGROUND

Due to safety issues stemming from nursing knowledge deficits of insulin administration, the use of simulation via practice in a virtual immersive environment, Second Life was evaluated in a case study of practicing nurses.

DESIGN

This case study used a single convenience group, post-test design.

METHODS

Perceived usability was evaluated using the System Usability Scale. Evaluation of decision-making was evaluated via Situational Awareness Score at two simulation freezes in the Second Life simulation with practicing nurses (n = 12).

RESULTS

Nurses with more years of practice reported difficulty in using Second Life. As age increased, the total Situational Awareness Score decreased. Day shift nurses were more likely to obtain a High Situational Awareness Score.

CONCLUSIONS

Although usability was nearly obtained, virtual immersive environments for nurses has promise to provide practice in aiding clinical decision-making.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

Finding a new platform to allow all nurses to practice difficult clinical decisions is key. A virtual immersive environment, like Second Life, can provide simulation for nurses to practice making such difficult decisions.

Academic profile, beliefs, and self-efficacy in research of clinical nurses: implications for the Nursing Research Program in a Magnet Journey™ hospital

Objective:

To describe the academic profile, research experience, beliefs, and self-efficacy in research of clinical nurses in a Magnet Journey™ hospital.

Methods:

Quantitative descriptive designed to assess research experience of clinical nurses. The survey was divided into demographics characteristics; scientific/academic profile (Nursing degree; membership in academic research groups, involvement in papers, teaching activities, scientific conferences, and posters presented); beliefs related to nursing research (about skills, benefits to career, reputation of institution, patient care; job satisfaction level); and Research Self-Efficacy (conducting literature review; evaluating quality of studies; using theory; understanding evidence; and scientific writing: putting ideas on paper easily; recognize and adapt the text to the reader; write to the standards required by science; write with objectivity, logical sequence, coherence, simplicity, clarity, and precision; insert the references in the text correctly; write the references appropriately; use correct spelling and grammar; write texts in English).

Results:

Most clinical nurses had low research experience, yet had positive beliefs in and perception of well-developed research skills.

Conclusion:

Our findings should contribute to the preparation of research programs aimed at facilitating the engagement of clinical nurses in the development of scientific projects.

Mind the gaps in ethical regulations of nursing research

The introduction of and the commitment to evidence-based nursing in all care settings have led to a rapid increase of intervention and outcome-based research programs. Yet, the topics of nursing research are not only affected by interventions and outcomes but also affected by the concept of caring derived from humanistic philosophy. Considering this twofold orientation of nursing science, nuanced ethical regulations for nursing research programs are called for. In addition to the different research approaches, further arguments for ethical regulations are as follows: first, the different degrees of contextualization and the variety of participation models regarding the target groups; second, the capacities and opportunities of participants; and third, the caring relationship between nurses and research subjects. To capture these special features of nursing science, four approaches to fill the gaps in existing ethical regulations for nursing research are proposed: (a) process orientation, (b) community orientation, (c) context orientation, and (d) relation orientation.

Nurse mentoring study demonstrates a magnetic work environment: predictors of mentoring benefits among pediatric nurses

This descriptive, correlational research study applied a business mentoring model, the Mutual Benefits Model (M. G. Zey, 1991), to explore relationships among mentoring quality, mentoring quantity, mentoring type, length of employment, and mentoring benefits among pediatric staff nurse protégés in a single Midwestern, Magnet-designated, freestanding children's hospital. Results support the hypothesis that the linear combination of quality of mentoring and length of employment explained 40% of the variance in mentoring benefits, more than any one factor alone (R=.63, p=.01). Nurse mentoring, conceptually and experientially, demonstrates the Magnet model components and provides implications for the Magnet Journey.

Research education for clinical nurses: a pilot study to determine research self-efficacy in critical care nurses

BACKGROUND

Translating research into practice is essential to providing care that promotes both cost-efficient and effective health care delivery. Nurses practicing in the intensive care unit are in need of education that can build research self-efficacy and promote understanding and the ability to apply research findings.

METHODS

This pilot study evaluated the Critical Reading of Research Publications Plus course with intensive care unit nurses to determine whether this experience would affect their research self-efficacy. The Nursing Research Self-Efficacy Scale was administered before and after the course.

RESULTS

Paired t tests showed a significant increase on three of the four subscales in research self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

This study shows that using a course along with mentors may increase the research self-efficacy of practicing nurses.