Research for improving the health and well-being of the black community: implications for shaping a research agenda.

Black Americans continue to experience a disproportionately poorer health status than the majority population. Research is one avenue that can help to identify both contributing and mediating factors related to this disparity. Black nurses are in a unique position to conduct research that will improve the health and well-being of Black Americans. This article addresses the need for Black nurses to become more actively involved in designing, conducting, and evaluating research, and identifies areas for consideration when shaping a research agenda for the Black community.