Doctoral education in nursing has a high priority on clinical research and intervention studies.  Although designated as essential and a critical component of nursing, the application of research findings to practice is, more often than not, a discussion rather than an actual student learning activity. The nursing research residency takes the perspective that working with nurse colleagues in the clinical setting to establish and expand nursing research throughout the culture of the institution is an application of the research endeavor and the missing piece to develop and expand evidence-based practice. In addition to fostering the implementation of research findings, the residency provides the perfect opportunity for the PhD student to conduct his/her own research, gaining access and support across the clinical setting.

The nursing PhD program at the University of South Florida has launched the research residency as a partnership with area hospitals in which students who have progressed in the program are awarded paid residency slots in participating facilites.  The hospitals fund the program with an assistantship stipend of  $20,000/year plus tuition for the resident.  The resident devotes 20 hours/week in the role, working with nursing administration, staff and the interdisciplinary team to advance nursing research and evidence-based practice at whatever level appropriate for the given facility.  The research residents are managed in a seminar by the college faculty who help direct the academic experience, keep a focus on dissertation research opportunities, and assure learning across agencies.

This innovative approach simultaneously provides a welcome mechanism to link the university and the clinical setting, provides financial support for PhD students, increases the likelihood of implementing evidence-based practice, and gives the doctoral student a clinical setting and access to patient populations for ongoing research studies.  Hospitals in pursuit of magnate status are particularly anxious to launch this partnership.

See more of Nursing Research Residency: An Academic-Practice Partnership
See more of The 17th International Nursing Research Congress Focusing on Evidence-Based Practice (19-22 July 2006)