Use of a Delphi technique to prioritize clinical nursing research needs.

School of nursing faculty and nursing service personnel at an academic medical center in the South, collaboratively using a Delphi method, were able to prioritize the top three unit based clinical nursing research needs. The benefits were evident as research conducted at the staff level linked the research efforts with the quality improvement efforts on the Labor, Delivery and OB Receiving Units. The Delphi method, a consensus building technique, offered a clear, concise, accurate and non-threatening approach for staff nurses to participate in research.