Driving Nurse-Led Research in the Acute Care Setting

Abstract

The practice of nursing is one that has a scientific basis. Daily, nurses apply physics in the use of positional therapy, chemistry in the interpretation of laboratory results, biology in understanding how the human host incubates disease, pathophysiology in the physical assessment of patients and identification of diseases and conditions, and pharmacology in the administration of medications. It therefore, is not a difficult transition for nurses to learn the value of evidenced-based practice and research in improving the clinical outcomes for our patients. Hence, bedside nurse leaders in collaboration with healthcare librarians, nurse leaders and nurse researchers can develop Nurse Research and Evidence-Based Practice Councils (Committees) that investigate and translate into actual practice innovations.