Fostering the growth of research-based oncology nursing practice.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe the initial stages involved in fostering a research-based oncology nursing practice in a comprehensive cancer program, including planning the initial implementation strategies to stimulate research awareness and create a program of research studies in clinical oncology nursing.

DATA SOURCES

Literature searches; published articles, abstracts, and books; interviews with staff nurses; departmental, committee, and task force meetings; nursing grand rounds and workshops.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Review and use of the available information facilitated the design of implementation strategies that addressed issues identified in the literature and in clinical practice.

CONCLUSIONS

The nursing department was able to plan, introduce, and evaluate a series of activities directed toward integrating research and clinical practice and building a series of research studies in oncology nursing. Introducing both goals was challenging but facilitated staff learning about research, participating in research-related activities, and seeing results from research studies relevant to their clinical practice.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Research can be introduced successfully into the clinical setting if staff are involved in the planning and design of research-related activities and if research expertise is available to foster and support their participation.