Purpose: This article introduces the importance and nature of the role of the nurse scientist as a knowledge broker. Design: A systematic literature review was completed using a modified version of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) appraisal tool[JC1] to trace the emergence and characteristics of the knowledge broker role across disciplines internationally and in the United States. Methods: Salient publications were identified using PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Sociological Abstracts, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, as well as hand searches and searches of the grey literature. Authors used these resources to define the knowledge broker role and with their role-related experiences developed the Thompson Knowledge Brokering Model. Findings: A knowledge broker is one who connects science and society by building networks and facilitating opportunities among knowledge producers and knowledge users. The knowledge broker role includes three components: forming and sustaining partnerships; facilitating knowledge application; and creating new knowledge. There are five major strategies central to each role component: establish, engage, educate, empower, and evaluate. Conclusions: The knowledge broker role has been increasingly recognized worldwide as key to translating science into practice and policy. The nurse scientist is ideally suited for this role and should be promoted worldwide. The Thompson Knowledge Brokering Model can be used as a guide for nurse scientists.

Aim To report an analysis of the concept of exposure in environmental health for nursing. Background The importance of the environment has long been recognized in nursing, although the nature and scope of the concept and how it influences health has varied over time. Exposure is the sufficient and necessary link between environment and health. In nursing practice, the word ‘exposure’ has been used frequently with no clear standard definition. Design Concept analysis using Kim’s first level analytics. Data sources Chronological review (1980–2015) of the nursing science literature was conducted through ProQuest Dissertations and Theses and CINAHL, followed by a multi-disciplinary search through PubMed (1980–2015), texts and the Internet to compare definitions and measurements of exposure and related concepts. Methods Explicit and implicit conceptual definitions and measurements of exposure were identified, categorized and analyzed. Results The newly defined concept of exposure is a process involves three phases: 1. contact is made between a target and one or more agents in the same environment; 2. the agent accesses the target by one or more routes of entry; and 3. the agent enters the target by crossing a barrier or boundary. Existing measurements related to each phase are identified and discussed. Definitions of target and agent were refined for congruency. Conclusion Consistent use of terms as defined is critical to development of nursing knowledge. These concepts should be incorporated into nursing-related research to evaluate their usefulness to nursing. Alignment of this concept with relevant theories should be critically examined.

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