Design: An infrastructure needs assessment was performed and a resource inventory was used to address each research barrier.

Concept: Specific infrastructure is vital for the development and sustainability of a research program. Some of this infrastructure already existed and other needed to be recruited, connected or created.

Methods: A unit-based research committee was created with 24 bedside ICU nurses, co-chaired by one of the bedside nurses and a unit-based nurse researcher. The committee was created with the goal of carrying out the ‘study’ piece of the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. Essential research personnel were enlisted to participate, including the medical director of the ICU, a hospital-based nurse researcher and other research experts within the hospital system and from area universities. Next, funding sources were evaluated. An AACN grant was written and submitted, but was unsuccessful. Then, a request for funds was given to the Senior Vice President for Clinical Services and was granted using money from an endowed chair fund at $10,000 per year for 3 years. Other important resources identified and included in this project were the medical library and librarian, a computer resource lab and meeting rooms.

Results: All essential infrastructure elements were in place for the next phase, which was the development of the actual research program. The necessary infrastructure pieces were identified and organize within a three-month time period.

Conclusions/Implications: Once this vital infrastructure was in place, the sustainable research program could now be developed.

Back to Passport to Research: A Critical-Care Nurse's Adventure
Back to 15th International Nursing Research Congress
Sigma Theta Tau International
July 22-24, 2004