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Disseminating research or evidence-based practice is not straightforward. As more clinical nurses, executive nurse leaders, nurse scientists, and faculty contribute to new knowledge, there is an increasing need to support the processes to publish and disseminate manuscripts to advance healthcare. Nurse administrators and leaders are key influencers and supporters to bolster expertise and resources to publish. This article provides nurse leaders and administrators clear, actionable steps to enable successful publication outcomes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Increasingly, nurse executives are embracing evidence-based practice (EBP). Yet, it takes 17 years to move only 14% of research evidence into practice. Implementation science (IS) aims to reduce this gap through the study of factors that influence dissemination, adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions. Nurse leaders aiming for EBP must be well equipped to support IS. This article introduces IS, leadership competencies essential for supporting implementation research and practice, and preparing an IS-ready workforce., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

As the role of nursing grows in healthcare, the engagement of frontline nurses in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research is becoming the expectation and no longer the exception. Clinical nurses are in a unique position to inform and implement scholarly projects. The purpose of this staff development and capacity-building project was to increase the output of scholarly work among frontline nurses through the formalization of nursing inquiry support via designated nursing inquiry project coordinators.

In healthcare, timely communication of critical information is imperative among workforce members. Nurse leaders struggle with how to reach clinical staff effectively when informing them of program updates, practice changes, or available resources. This article provides a review of the marketing and communication literature sharing best practices for improving visibility and program uptake for infrastructure supporting the conduct of inquiry projects among hospital employees using an evidence-based practice approach.

Magnet designation requires that nurses be actively involved in activities that lead to obtaining evidence through conducting research. Unfortunately, several barriers limit nurses' ability to engage in research activities, including insufficient resources. This article explains how a community-based hospital implemented a fellowship model to circumvent some of these barriers. Two fellowship positions are described, 1 in research and 1 in library sciences. The method, outcomes, and cost of the fellowship model are discussed.

Objective: To describe strategies to recruit and support members from hard-to-reach groups on research-focused Patient and Family Advisory Councils (PFACs)., Background: Ensuring diverse representation of members of research PFACs is challenging, and few studies have given attention to addressing this problem., Methods: A qualitative study was conducted using 8 focus groups and 19 interviews with 80 PFAC members and leaders, hospital leaders, and researchers., Results: Recruitment recommendations were: 1) utilizing existing networks; 2) going out to the community; 3) accessing outpatient clinics; and 4) using social media. Strategies to support inclusion were: 1) culturally appropriate communication methods; 2) building a sense of community between PFAC members; 3) equalizing roles between community members/leaders; 4) having a diverse PFAC leadership team; and 5) setting transparent expectations for PFAC membership., Conclusion: Increasing the diversity of research PFACs is a priority, and it is important to determine how best to engage groups that have been traditionally underrepresented.

Multisite nursing research can be a challenging endeavor. A unique partnership between 5 clinical sites and a national research center of a healthcare technology organization led to the successful implementation of a multisite study. Strategies for success, obstacles encountered, benefits, implications for the Magnet journey, and leadership are discussed.

The Nurse Executive Committee for Research and Inquiry (NECRI) was established to align clinical inquiry with nursing clinical operations to advance nursing science and improve patient care and outcomes for patients and their families. The authors describe the development, structure, and function of NECRI, outcomes to date, and infrastructure necessary to support a sustainable model.

Magnet® and other organizations investing resources in evidence-based practice (EBP) are ideal laboratories for translational nursing research. Translational research, the study of implementation of evidence into practice, provides a unique opportunity to leverage local EBP work for maximum impact. Aligning EBP projects with rigorous translational research can efficiently meet both EBP and research requirements for Magnet designation or redesignation, inform clinical practice, and place organizations at the leading edge of practice-based knowledge development for the nursing discipline.

Senior nursing leaders from the University of Kentucky (UK) College of Nursing and UK HealthCare have explored the meaning of an authentic partnership. This article quantifies the tangible benefits and outcomes from this maturing academic nursing and clinical practice partnership. Benefits include inaugural academic nursing participation in health system governance, expanded integration of nursing research programs both in the college and in the health science center, and the development of collaborative strategies to address nursing workforce needs.

Nurse leaders lack timely access to trended electronic health record (EHR) data to drive decision making. Robust nurse-sensitive patient outcome data are difficult to locate in EHRs and largely absent across entities. The Colorado Collaborative for Nursing Research is currently testing a federated data system to get nurse leaders the information they need, when they need it.

Safety net settings care for a disproportionate share of low-resource patients often have fewer resources to invest in nursing research. To address this dilemma, an academic-clinical partnership was formed in an effort to increase nursing research capacity at a safety net setting. Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and the Center for Health Outcomes and Policy Research located at the University of Pennsylvania partnered researchers and baccalaureate-prepared nurses in an 18-month research skill development program. This article describes the programmatic design, conceptual framework, resource requirements, and effect on the institutional partners and participants.

Nurses' active involvement in clinical scholarship is necessary to advance the nursing profession and improve patient outcomes. Yet, definitional confusion and numerous barriers exist to clinical scholarship in and across academic and patient care settings. We discuss factors that pose barriers to the continuum of clinical scholarship and suggest opportunities for clinician-researcher collaborations that promote nurses' engagement in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and research.

A highly visible transition occurred earlier this year with the retirement of Pam Thompson, MS, RN, CENP, FAAN, from her role as CEO of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Ms Thompson was always an advocate of promoting the voice of nursing. This month, the spotlight will shine on a team of nurse leaders who found their voice, got involved, and led the conversation. We will trace their journey as they analyzed their situation, applied the evidence, and used their seat at the table.

Publication of 28 data-based articles in peer-reviewed journals over a 4-year period is the result of a commitment to conducting and publishing research at a 383-bed Magnet®-redesignated community hospital. The research-intensive environment in nursing at this institution supports publication as the desired outcome of all projects. The provision of appropriate resources, the development of 2 models to guide the conduct of research and nursing leadership that encourages and supports research activities enables nurses to submit manuscripts describing their work. Steps taken to support the publication of findings can be adapted for other practice settings.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare baseline and year 1 findings from a research-focused academic-service partnership (ASP) designed to increase research capacity, evidence-based practice (EBP) use, and research productivity., Background: Few combined individual and organizational best practices could be found that successfully sustain EBP. An ASP model, using structural and enabling processes, was evaluated., Methods: Using a nonexperimental pretest-posttest design, 67 acute care nurses who participated at baseline were resurveyed, and year 1 focus groups were conducted., Results: Knowledge increased from baseline to year 1, and nurses who participated on a committee with an embedded scientist were more knowledgeable at year 1 than those who did not. While EBP confidence and self-reported EBP use did not improve, research productivity increased 33%. Year 1 focus groups identified facilitators and barriers., Conclusion: Findings support some EBP benefits related to a research-focused ASP including research productivity; however, implementation barriers and contextual factors may have limited potential outcomes.

Meeting the Magnet Recognition Program® requirements for integrating research into practice can be daunting, particularly for nonacademic hospitals. The authors describe 1 healthcare system's approach to advancing nursing research in 5 hospitals through collaboration with a local university school of nursing and development of an infrastructure to support, empower, and mentor clinical nurses in the conduct of research. Outcomes include completed research, presentations, publications, practice change, and professional development.

Objective: The aim of this study was to present an instrument and comparative database designed to evaluate patients' perceptions of caring behaviors of caregivers., Background: Acute care leaders are under pressure to improve publicly reported patient satisfaction scores. Some nurse leaders have implemented professional practice environments based on human caring theory, whereas others have used scripting to standardize communication between staff and patients., Methods: The Watson Caritas Patient Score (WCPS) is collected quarterly from a random sample of patients who are admitted to acute care hospital units., Results: The WCPS was able to discriminate across unit types and hospitals. Items were related to publicly reported nursing communication scores., Conclusions: Participation in research based on human caring theory has given nurse leaders the opportunity to evaluate effectiveness of professional practice environments. It may provide the opportunity to focus staff communication with patients more authentically and in a way that enriches the experience for both.

Evidence is the bedrock of nursing practice, and nursing research is the key source for this evidence. In this article, we draw distinctions between the use and the conduct of nursing research and provide a perspective for how the conduct of nursing research in a Veterans Administration hospital can build an organization's capacity for nursing research.

In today's competitive healthcare market, more hospitals are seeking Magnet® designation. To meet the expectations for evidence-based practice and research, many organizations are considering the addition of statistical expertise to their team. The authors discuss the benefits of analytical support and integration of a statistician on the team.

In this month's column, the executive director of the American Nurses Credentialing Center provides a perspective on the importance of nursing research and the creation of a supportive culture. Magnet organizations promote a culture of inquiry in leading to new knowledge, innovations, and improvements.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe program requirements and scholarly outcomes for registered nurse (RN)-led research in US hospitals., Background: Magnet recognition emphasis on evidence-based practice and research has stimulated the growth of hospital-based nursing research programs. Hospital policies stipulating whether RNs can lead studies as principal investigators (PIs) varied among members of a regional nursing research consortium., Methods: Members of the consortium conducted a national survey of hospitals regarding their requirements for RN-led research and associated scholarly outcomes., Results: Most (87.1%) of the hospitals (N = 160) reported no minimum educational requirements for nurses to be PIs. Mentoring, training, and peer review/approval requirements differed between Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals. On average, hospitals reported an annual total of 4 studies initiated, 4 disseminated via podium or poster presentation, 1 published, and 2 funded., Conclusions: Findings from this study provide a prototype and benchmark information for nursing administrators planning to establish, evaluate, and/or expand nursing research programs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the facilitators and hindrances associated with the conduct of registered nurse-led research in US hospitals., Background: Hospital-based nursing research programs are growing in response to increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice. Concerns existed about institutional regulations prohibiting staff nurses' ability to be principal investigators of their research studies., Methods: Comments from the Hospital-Based Nursing Research Requirements and Outcomes national survey regarding facilitators and hindrances of conducting nursing research in hospitals were analyzed using content analysis., Results: Comments from 95% of surveys were classified into 24 facilitator and hindrance codes. Both Magnet and non-Magnet hospitals identified the presence of a research mentor as the top facilitator. In non-Magnet hospitals, the top hindrance was a lack of a research mentor as compared with Magnet hospitals, which reported lack of time., Conclusions: The presence of a research mentor is the most important facilitator for hospital nursing research. Findings provide data to inform research program development.

This month, the Executive Director of the American Nurses Credentialing Center provides a look at the importance of having a nursing strategic plan especially when working to create a research agenda.

With little guidance in the literature regarding best practices, clinical institutions have used different organizational models to meet the challenges of building research capacity. This article provides recommendations regarding the most productive models based on review of historical clinical research facilitation models and the results of a survey regarding extant models conducted among research facilitators who were members of the Midwest Nursing Research Society.

Hospitals as research environments are crucial in advancing evidence-based practice and translational research. The authors discuss issues related to hospital-based nursing research such as institutional review board approval, the HIPAA, structure, unit characteristics, and nurse staffing as well as research-related issues such as study purpose and design, participant recruitment, and research personnel. Strategies and suggestions for nurse executives to assist researchers in overcoming recruitment challenges are presented.

Nurse administrators focus on factors that influence nurses' levels of satisfaction to reduce turnover and improve retention. One important determinant of nurses' satisfaction is the opportunity for professional development. On the basis of feedback from the nurses, a professional development program, Career Advancement for Registered Nurse Excellence, was instituted. The authors describe one approach to create opportunities to improve professional nurse development and the necessity for ongoing assessment of its impact on nurses' job satisfaction.

Integrating evidence-based practice into the culture of an acute care hospital requires assessment, planning, and intervention by nursing leadership. The authors discuss a statewide study that assessed the skill level of nurses in obtaining evidence for their nursing practice, using computers and databases, as well as evaluating the perceived availability of resources in their hospitals to access evidence.

Conducting research and using evidence-based practice play a major role in achieving Magnet status, the sought-after recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to healthcare institutions that exhibit nursing excellence. The authors present a synopsis of a conference sponsored by a Sigma Theta Tau International consortium in which a panel of nurse leaders distinguishes between research and evidence-based practice and discusses strategies to achieve both in the journey to Magnet status.

Evidence-based practice is defined as the use of current best evidence by clinicians when making patient care decisions. Barriers to an evidence-based practice are well identified in the literature and significantly impact the use of research findings in practice. A key feature of a practice environment that supports and promotes the use of best evidence is requiring clinical practice policies and procedures to be evidence-based. The authors describe the structure and process developed to facilitate evidence-based policies and the outcomes of the initiative.

Evidence-based practice, a crucial competency for healthcare providers and a basic force in Magnet hospitals, results in better patient outcomes. The authors describe the strategic approach to support the maturation of The Johns Hopkins Nursing evidence-based practice model through providing leadership, setting expectations, establishing structure, building skills, and allocating human and material resources as well as incorporating the model and tools into undergraduate and graduate education at the affiliated university.

Nearly $200 billion of healthcare construction is expected by the year 2015, and nurse leaders must expand their knowledge and capabilities in healthcare design. The goal of this bimonthly department is to prepare the nurse leader in using the evidence-based design process to ensure that new, expanded, and renovated hospitals facilitate optimal patient outcomes, enhance the work environment for healthcare providers, and improve organizational performance. In this article, the author discusses roles in healthcare design that nurse leaders can assume to ensure a successful project.

An established hospital-based nursing research fellowship program was transformed into an evidence-based practice fellowship despite its previous high satisfaction ratings from nursing leaders and nurse fellow participants. The faculty for the fellowship program determined that the long-term outcomes of the research program were insufficient in light of the hospital resources committed to the fellowship program. An evidence-based practice approach was then created in anticipation that greater short-term and more sustained longer-term benefits for the hospital would be realized. The transformation of the fellowship and the short-term outcomes are described.

Since the early 1990s, evidence-based practice has gained momentum, but barriers persist between knowledge development and application in practice. The Massachusetts General Hospital re-engineered the Nursing Research Committee as one vehicle for promoting research-based practice. Using the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework, the mission and methods (context) to advance research-based practice are explicated. Characteristics of the membership, leadership, and practice environment that facilitate research utilization are delineated.

In this department, hot topics in nursing outcomes, research, and evidence-based practice relevant to the nurse administrator are highlighted. The goal is to discuss the practical implications for nurse leaders in diverse healthcare settings. Content includes evidence-based projects and decision making, locating measurement tools for quality improvement and safety projects, using outcome measures to evaluate quality, practice implications of administrative research, and exemplars of projects that demonstrate innovative approaches to organizational problems.

Objective: The study evaluated a nursing research program designed to achieve systematic evidence-based practice change. Specifically, change in nurse attitudes about use of research and research conduct, practice change projects, and nurse participation in research-related activities were evaluated., Background: Evidence indicates that successful evidence-based practice change in an organization requires senior leadership support and a systematic program for practice change. Evaluation of program effectiveness provides evidence about opportunities for further improvement., Methods: Quantitative evaluation used a pretest-posttest design. The site was an academic medical center in rural West Virginia. Participants were registered nurses from all inpatients units, perioperative services, and emergency departments. Surveys used Alcock et al's Staff Nurses and Research Activities scale. Descriptive evaluation included the number of nurses who attended the workshop, practice change projects, scholarly products disseminated, and outcome of a Magnet review., Results: First, knowledge about the availability of support services increased between 1999 and 2002 and was associated with higher attitude scores about research and research utilization. Second, registered nurses who reported participating in research-related activities had more positive scores on all attitudes than registered nurses who reported not participating., Conclusions: Nurse leaders may improve participation and attitudes about research and research utilization by internally marketing the support available for research-related activities.

Hospital leaders who are not part of a university system often are not aware of the complexities associated with conducting research or the infrastructure required to successfully support a hospital-based research program. The author discusses a research program, provides recommendations for building a hospital-based infrastructure, and shares one hospital's experience.

Objective: To identify the barriers to research utilization for nurses within a Magnet community hospital., Design: A descriptive, quantitative design was used., Methods: The instrument used was the BARRIERS scale, a 29-item Likert-type questionnaire, regarding perceived obstacles to research utilization. It included 3 open-ended questions. In all, 584 packets containing the BARRIERS tool and a demographic survey were successfully distributed. A total of 275 (47%) completed questionnaires were returned., Results: The questions were categorized into 4 domains: Nurse, Setting, Research, and Presentation. The Setting domain was found to be the greatest barrier for nurses. Four of the top 5 barriers related to the Setting. Facilitators to implementing research fell within 4 distinct themes: access and availability, education and communication, practical application, and supportive environment. A statistically significant difference was found in the Nurse domain based on the education level (F = 2.932) (P = .034)., Conclusions: The results of this study will be useful in determining strategies for improving the nurse practice setting to facilitate the use of research by nurses. Suggested changes should encourage the reading of research; discussion of research; risk taking to implement new ideas; mentoring; and education of nursing staff, hospital administration, and physicians. Implementation of the Magnet standards is likely to diminish the barriers to research use by nurses within that facility.

Whether the goal is to generate new knowledge through basic research or to effectively use existing knowledge in evidence-based clinical practice, collaborative exchange between service and academia is essential. The authors describe 2 successful strategies that have been mutually beneficial to a clinical agency and a school of nursing in fostering research and evidence-based practice. These strategies can be used by other institutions as they strive to meet standards for excellence in academia and service.