Paper: If You Build It They Will Come: Creating a Culture of Nursing Science in a Clinical Setting (40th Biennial Convention (October 31st- November 4th, 2009))

Sunday, November 1, 2009: 4:55 PM

Cheryl A. Lefaiver, PhD, RN
Clinical Education & Research, Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn, IL
Wendy Tuzik Micek, PhD, RN
Department of Nursing Science, Advocate Christ Medical Center/Hope Children's Hospital/Trinity Hospital, Oak Lawn, IL

Learning Objective 1: describe successful strategies to increase nursing participation in research activities.

Learning Objective 2: define useful resources for support of research integration in a clinical setting.

The quest to attain Magnet status in the hospital setting has heightened the awareness of the need to involve staff nurses in the research process. Involving nurses in the process to explore evidence and evaluate practice leads to improved, measureable patient outcomes and enhanced opportunities for professional development. Success requires hospital leadership to provide the resources necessary to support a culture of inquiry and experimentation.

This session will describe the experience of a large academic Midwestern facility and the journey traveled to build a department of Nursing Science using creativity, flexibility and perseverance. The nursing research council has been in place for 5 years and has provided the foundation to build a culture where nurses are encouraged and supported to ask clinical questions, implement practice changes and share their accomplishments. Successful strategies will be discussed including the use of key personnel to start the groundswell of support, selecting projects tactically to create momentum, recognizing early achievements, developing standard processes, and providing consistent education and communication throughout all levels of the organization. Examples will be presented that demonstrate the evolution and increased participation of nurses to engage in the research process.

Participation has increased over time with nurses working in a variety of roles for evidence based practice projects and research studies. Creating and sustaining interest in nursing science is essential as nurses strive to implement best practices which lead to improved patient outcomes.

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