Integrating nursing research and practice —the role of the researcher as teacher

Abstract

For the past two decades authors have discussed the lack of research-based nursing practice. Many explanations are afforded but few focus on the way in which the researcher plans to involve staff in each stage of the process. The desire by practitioners to become researchers has been confounded in the main by increasing pressures on staff and a failure to realise that special training and opportunities are necessary for the generation and fruition of research ideas. In this article two recent studies are briefly discussed to demonstrate how the researcher can work with nurses to identify relevant topics, provide support and specific education to improve care and subsequently to evaluate the effects. Final discussion reflects the importance of introducing a number of individuals with a researcher-teacher role amid the practitioners.