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.

Beyond Terminology Confusion: Creating a Culture of Nursing Inquiry.

Inquiry is the foundation of nursing practice. Inquiry projects impact safety, quality measures, and patient/staff outcomes. As the profession with closest proximity to the patient, nurses must not only participate in but also spearhead inquiry work. This article addresses the knowledge gap that continues to exist among clinical nurses regarding the three forms of nursing inquiry and provides recommendations for nursing professional development practitioners to support clinical nurses' understanding and participation in these endeavors.