Paper
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Connecting the Staff Nurse to Research: A Nursing Research Residency Program
June L. Rondinelli, RN, BSN, Patient Care Services, Kaiser Permanente, Pasadena, CA, USA
The purpose of this presentation is to describe a nursing research residency program, developed at Kaiser Permanente, which connects staff nurses to research. In this program, staff nurses learn the systematic process of research by working side-by-side with expert nurse researchers on actual studies. This is accomplished by releasing the nurse 20-30 hours a week from “staff” or “clinic” hours for five months from August to December. Resident hours are paid hours; therefore a job-sharing state. This reflects Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to minimize identified barriers to staff participation in research--access, time, and support. Candidates are chosen through an application process that includes a resume, letter of managerial support, and a personal letter reflecting why the staff nurse wants to be a resident. The residency provides many opportunities: attendance of regional and local facility research committees; access to electronic databases and systematic reviews; data entry into spread sheets; writing of abstracts; use of the Iowa model of evidence-based practice; participation in professional presentations and conferences; and a focus on one active nursing research study that personally interests the resident. Mentoring the resident to set objectives and reach for new aspirations occurs as well as networking with advanced practice nurses. Two tools that will be presented are weekly reflections in an online journal and an orientation notebook that transitions over time into a personal portfolio. Residents achieve professional growth and possible new career opportunities arise. Major goals of the program are increased knowledge of nursing research, and application of this new knowledge in the resident’s work setting to increase participation among other staff nurses. The ultimate goal of the program is “hands on” application of research by the staff nurse that promotes the use of research evidence to improve nursing practice.