Who are the Nurse Researchers that mentor, coach, and educate individuals and teams in nursing research?
In the Department of Nursing Research and Innovation, nurse researchers are PhD prepared nurses who have experience in nursing research and provide guidance and support in many ways to facilitate evidence based nursing practices. Each nurse researcher has specific Institutes that they provide research mentorship and consulting services to, based on their clinical backgrounds and/or research interests (see bios for each RN team member). In addition, each nurse researcher has their own focused program of research.
Who are the nurse investigators that conduct nursing research?
We encourage any nurse who has research questions, an idea for a research study, or an innovative process or device to come forward and pursue their ideas. Staff nurses, nursing management, clinical specialists, nurse educators or practitioners and ancillary team members can all be involved. Oftentimes, the most important ideas for research are those generated by clinicians who provide direct patient care. We encourage collaborative research practices and utilize our wide array of clinical experts within our system to aid us in the process of gaining and generating new knowledge.
How do nurses get “time” to conduct nursing research?
Stepping away from bedside practice to conduct research (no matter what stage of research the project is in) can be time consuming. The Nursing Research Fund (NURF) Award provides small grant funding to aid in research processes. Nurses can apply for funding two times per year and proposals are reviewed and scored by a review team. Once approved for funding, nurses can use funds to allow p.r.n. or part time RNs to provide patient care while they engage in nursing research activities, including taking time to receive one-on-one education with their nurse researcher mentor. The Department of Nursing Research has templates, guidelines, checklists and algorithms electronically available and utilizes support personnel to aid nurses in making research happen. For example, we will use students and temporary workers to help create study databases and retrieve review literature from our electronic library services. In this way, nurses can focus on aspects of research that cannot be completed by others. Additionally, nurse researcher mentors provide guidance in every aspect of the research process, including determining feasibility of a proposed project, multidisciplinary collaboration, editorial support (proposals, abstracts, posters and manuscripts), grant and Institutional Review Board application completion, instrument development and understanding statistical analysis reports. This support not only enhances the quality of research that eventually is conducted, it prevents time spent on frivolous or unnecessary activities.
Quotes
Terri Murray RN, BSN, Nurse Manager of Cardiothoracic Stepdown is principal investigator for a study that addresses patient call lights. When asked how the research team aided her progress, she stated: “My Nursing Research mentor helped guide me through the logistic pieces that needed to be completed to ensure a sound research project. Her assistance was critical for early success related to getting this project ready for Institutional Review Board approval. We developed a content validity tool to ensure that the survey tool we developed was truly valid. Because of the work completed up front, the data collection phase was initiated quickly, without misunderstanding or confusion by those involved in the process. In fact, we were able to use a Patient Service Associate and high school senior (student) to assist in data collection and entry into an electronic database.
The opportunity to participate in a nursing research study as an investigator has been very rewarding. It is very exciting to know that your efforts in research can be beneficial in providing more effective patient care. I have worked in the Heart Center as a nurse and as a manager for a total of 15 years. Participation in nursing research is such an important part of the care we give as nurses. It aids in developing best practices based on scientific evidence. We are closest to the patients we care for; it is up to us as nurse clinicians to get involved in ensuring evidence-based practices.
Jane Hartman MSN, RN, CPNP Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Pediatric and Interventional Radiology is principal investigator in a study to determine if an innovative teaching strategy decreases pre Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) stress and anxiety. Regarding her role as a research nurse, Jane states: "Actively participating in a nursing research project at the Cleveland Clinic has been exciting and rewarding. My nursing research mentor provided me with endless support and direction in initiating and following through with this study. I'm looking forward to presenting my results at a national conference, publishing my findings and then translating the new evidence into practice, if indeed my innovative strategy makes a difference."
Nurse Researcher Personal Programs of Research
Patricia A. Adler, PhD, RN, CNS, LMT program of research is health promotion and wellness interventions; in particular, the use of movement and touch to improve the health of older adults and their management of chronic health conditions. “My interest in movement therapies, such as Tai Chi, and older adults and touch research is grounded in personal experience as a Tai Chi teacher and clinical instructor of geriatrics, and that of a nurse practitioner and massotherapist. Outcome variables of interest include those of impairment such as pain, anxiety, depression, balance, and muscle strength; functional limitations such as mobility and gait; disability, and quality of life. I have been so honored to share my research interests with nurses I work with and support them in the development of their own research interest. Generally nurses identify a problem that is clinically relevant and feasible within their environment aimed at improving patient outcomes. This is an exciting time to be a NURSE! Nursing research is especially important at this time in our history; it is a response by our profession to societies mandate for evidence-base practice, and an opportunity to contribute to our knowledge of nursing and nursing practice.”
Nancy Albert PhD, CCNS, CCRN, NE-BC, FAHA, FCCM program of research is related to many aspects of care and outcomes in patients with heart failure; specifically, pain, quality of life, activity and knowledge in obese people, depression, illness beliefs about heart failure and adherence to self-care management. “When patients incorporate health promoting actions into their routine activities of daily living, they can improve morbidity (hospitalization and quality of life) and may also improve survival. It is easy to teach patients what to do, but actions do not always match intentions. My research attempts to learn the predictors of self-care adherence. Once known, we can develop interventions based on modifiable predictors and examine adherence to self-care behaviors. Nurses want to educate patients in a way that is most likely to lead to improve their outcomes. This research may directly affect the way we carry out routine education and other actions for patients. It is rewarding to have the opportunity to conduct research in a field where there is much to learn and much to offer patients. Factors affecting behavior are multiple and can be complex; however, nurses seem to quickly grasp and understand the themes and factors that we know are involved because they are practical (depression, social isolation, etc) and make sense. It is my pleasure to work with staff nurses, students and external colleagues to increase our knowledge base in this field and have the potential to impact the lives of the patients and families we serve.”
Sandra Siedlecki PhD, RN CNS program of research is in pain management: “Patients and nurses are looking for alternative and complementary approaches to management of chronic conditions. Chronic conditions by their very definition cannot be cured, but must be endured. Nowhere is the caring and creative intention of nurses more effective than when we help patients and families endure. Complementary therapies, such as music, guided imagery, and relaxation techniques are inexpensive and relatively easy for nurses to teach patients to self-administer. The public is hungry for choices that do not involve side-effects and that improve their overall quality of life. My previous work supports that of others before me and demonstrates that self-administered music interventions of preferred music facilitate rest, sleep, relaxation and decrease perceptions of pain, depression, and disability. Nurses cannot cure disease, but if we can help patients learn to live with disease we have provided an invaluable service. To accomplish this, we must as a profession conduct high quality, well-design research studies and we must disseminate this knowledge to the nursing and larger healthcare community. Evidence-based practice is built upon a foundation of knowledge and it is the responsibility of every nurse to assist in maintaining and building this body of knowledge.”
