Brigham & Women’s Hospital is a large tertiary facility in Boston, Massachusetts that accommodates 8,500 deliveries per year. One of the 30 bed Postpartum/Nursery Units (CWN 10) has created an environment that is enabling a small group of staff nurses to conduct a research study.  This unit is staffed by a seasoned group of nurses who, until now, have never developed and conducted their own unit-based research study. The research study (comparing the effect of bathing method on temperature regulation in the Late Preterm Infant) is the culmination of 2 years of work with the nursing staff. What steps were involved in bringing the nurses to this level of professional practice?

The process began in 2005 when several nurses individually expressed a general concern to the clinical nurse educator about policies regarding care of the Late Preterm Infant. This simple expression of concern began a cascade of activities that have gradually engaged the staff in a more professional practice.

We know from the literature (Albers & Sedler, 2004; Roxburgh, 2006; Smirnoff et al, 2007) that nurses often feel reluctant to participate in developing and conducting clinical research studies for some of the following reasons:            Lack of interest in the subject or its relevance to practice            Lack of support and feedback            Lack of knowledge about research methods and procedures            Lack of access to a research expert           

With this in mind, the goals of the clinical educator were to gradually bring the staff along a journey of discovery that would take them through these steps:

1. Learn how to function as a task force and appreciate the mechanics of a well-run meeting.
2. Consistently use published literature at every step of the process to ensure evidence-based process and practice.
3. Nominate and support task force members to volunteer for other professional activities and committees.
4. Produce a poster detailing the work of the task force for the annual nurses’ week poster exhibit in the lobby of the hospital.
5. Learn the process for implementing change in the care of the Late Preterm Infant (stakeholder involvement, committee approvals, pilot projects, and communicating with staff).
6. Bring up the idea of a research project that would have relevance for their practice and be realistic in scope given that we are novice researchers.
7. With the help of a research expert, design a research proposal.
8. Apply and receive grant money for the research project.
9. Conduct the research project.
10. Present and publish the results of the research project.
11. Encourage and support members of the task force at every step of the way to present or author papers, posters or articles related to the work of the committee.
12. Validate the importance of this work through dissemination and recognition on several levels (unit, division, hospital, regional, national).

Engaging nursing staff to participate in clinical research is not something that can happen overnight. It is important that they are given the tools, support and education to be successful in this new and challenging role.