A Qualitative Study of Midlevel Nurse Managers' Perspectives of Scholarly Inquiry.

OBJECTIVE: This study explored the key characteristics and needs of midlevel nurse managers (MLNMs) who support and engage clinical nurses (CNs) in scholarly inquiry. BACKGROUND: Healthcare organizations expect CNs to participate in scholarly inquiry, incorporating evidence-based interventions to improve outcomes and safety. How the MLNM supports and engages CNs in scholarly inquiry remains unclear. METHODS: Twelve semistructured interviews of MLNMs occurred at several facilities in the mid-Atlantic region utilizing the institutional review board-acknowledged protocol. Theme interpretation utilized inductive analysis. RESULTS: Four recurrent themes emerged from the interviews related to the value of scholarly inquiry: 1) securing organizational resources to promote scholarly inquiry; 2) knowledge and experience in scholarly inquiry; 3) actions supporting scholarly inquiry; and 4) the value of scholarly inquiry within the organization. CONCLUSIONS: Senior nursing leadership and healthcare organizations must recognize the value and provide the infrastructure to support scholarly inquiry. Infrastructure includes education, dedicated time, access to expertise, and resources.

An academic and regional nurse research collaborative: Implications for nursing research.

INTRODUCTION: A diverse group of nurses and research Network Coordinators formed a collaboration to advance nursing research within Johns Hopkins Clinical Research Network, a partnership of academic and community hospitals in the mid-Atlantic region. The purpose of the Nurse Research Collaborative (NRC) is to provide mentoring, mutual growth, and assist the health care organizations to fulfill nursing research requirements. BACKGROUND: We created a multiinstitutional nursing research organization with diversity of member participants and health care facilities. The NRC structure allowed nonacademic facilities to engage in a variety of nursing research projects. This allows for increases in study sample sizes of diverse populations to support and expand nursing research. The NRC is modeled after a physician clinical research network with an aligned mission, vision, goals, and strategic priorities across member organizations. MAIN IDEAS: To strengthen multiinstitutional nursing research capability, the NRC developed an infrastructure of leadership, regular meetings, and formal educational presentations. The NRC completed three research studies, facilitating the Institutional Review Board application process, reviewing documents and contracts, providing individual institutional support, and coordinating site leader functions. CONCLUSION: A research collaboration of nurses, across multiple hospitals provides efficiencies and expertise not otherwise available in every organization.