The Role of the PhD RN Nurse Researcher in a Community Hospital Setting: Reducing the Theory Practice Gap V.A. Hascup, PhD, MSN, RN, CTN, CCE Nurse Researcher The nurse researcher role first appeared in the literature as early as the 1990s. Nurse Researchers who focused on quality patient care realized that findings were not applied in the clinical setting. The 1990s saw the emergence of multidisciplinary models for evidence-based care that included factors such as cost effectiveness, patient preferences, and clinical expertise. Evidence-based practice became a fact of life. Today, research does not just reside in the halls of academe, but has now moved into the hospital setting. The practice-theory gap has been well documented in the literature. Two prevailing views exist: 1)We are dealing with academe and practice – two different cultures, and 2) the assumption that theory can and must be directly applied to nursing practice, otherwise it is irrelevant. The dichotomy between academe and clinical practice currently exists. The reasonable assumption is that what is taught in the classroom should correlate with what is experienced in the clinical setting. Therefore the emergence of the PhD prepared RN Nurse Researcher in the hospital setting. There are several recommended bridging solutions, one that is reflective of developing “best practices” and a transfer of evidenced-based knowledge that can be applied in the clinical setting. Abstract Leadership’s Vision SMC is a 355 bed community hospital SMC is a 355 bed community hospital Nurse Researcher Role just a title in 2008 Nurse Researcher Role just a title in 2008 Both the CNO and VP of Nursing had a vision for the staff and the Nurse Researcher role with goals that included adoption of two models to guide nursing practice: Both the CNO and VP of Nursing had a vision for the staff and the Nurse Researcher role with goals that included adoption of two models to guide nursing practice: Watson’s Caring Theory – overarching theoretical framework to guide nursing practice Watson’s Caring Theory – overarching theoretical framework to guide nursing practice Melnyk’s Model for EBP – framework to guide evidence-based practice projects Melnyk’s Model for EBP – framework to guide evidence-based practice projects To actively encourage the staff to participate in SMCs Annual Nursing Research Day To actively encourage the staff to participate in SMCs Annual Nursing Research Day Educate the staff regarding EBP, research, and transcultural nursing Educate the staff regarding EBP, research, and transcultural nursing Mentor the staff in dissemination of the findings via podium, poster, and publishing Mentor the staff in dissemination of the findings via podium, poster, and publishing Develop a Journal Club Develop a Journal Club Mentor staff in attending school involving research/EBP/scholarly writing Mentor staff in attending school involving research/EBP/scholarly writing The Nurse Researcher Role at SMC Extremely fortunate to have visionary leadership dedicated to incorporating EBP and research in nursing practice Extremely fortunate to have visionary leadership dedicated to incorporating EBP and research in nursing practice CNO and VP are academically focused CNO and VP are academically focused Vision of implementing the Nurse Researcher role has been a long process – over 6 years Vision of implementing the Nurse Researcher role has been a long process – over 6 years Leadership is committed to promoting a culture of EBP, research and scholarly inquiry at the bedside Leadership is committed to promoting a culture of EBP, research and scholarly inquiry at the bedside Criteria for the Role of Nurse Researcher PhD prepared in nursing research or PhD candidate PhD prepared in nursing research or PhD candidate Certification in specialty Certification in specialty Experience with both quantitative and qualitative research and analytical software Experience with both quantitative and qualitative research and analytical software Experience with presenting both poster and podium at local, regional, national levels Experience with presenting both poster and podium at local, regional, national levels Actively engaged in professional organizations Actively engaged in professional organizations Actively engaged in teaching at a university level Actively engaged in teaching at a university level Experience with mentoring students Experience with mentoring students Serve as a role model for staff Serve as a role model for staff Responsibilities of the Role Significant progress has been made at SMC, but progress is slow Significant progress has been made at SMC, but progress is slow Must use champions to further the cause of EBP and cultural competency and motivate peers and colleagues Must use champions to further the cause of EBP and cultural competency and motivate peers and colleagues Barriers continue to exist, but with support of Nurse Researcher, many can be overcome Barriers continue to exist, but with support of Nurse Researcher, many can be overcome Leadership support imperative for success Leadership support imperative for success The Nurse Researcher must not only “talk the talk” but “walk the talk” by serving as a role model The Nurse Researcher must not only “talk the talk” but “walk the talk” by serving as a role model Journal Club offered monthly initially; now quarterly Journal Club offered monthly initially; now quarterly Generic topic articles chosen to appeal to all staff Generic topic articles chosen to appeal to all staff Unit specific journal club started for Maternal Child unit (L&D, Nursery, Mother/Baby) Unit specific journal club started for Maternal Child unit (L&D, Nursery, Mother/Baby) Lunch & Learn programs Lunch & Learn programs Research basics Research basics Appraising and critiquing the evidence Appraising and critiquing the evidence Understanding the IRB Understanding the IRB Understanding and applying Watson and Leininger in clinical practice Understanding and applying Watson and Leininger in clinical practice How to develop an EBP project using Melnyk’s Model How to develop an EBP project using Melnyk’s Model Understanding APA 6 th Understanding APA 6 th How to develop posters for presentations How to develop posters for presentations Research and EBP proposal development Research and EBP proposal development Programs on developing cultural competency Programs on developing cultural competency Programs on caring for diverse cultures (Muslim women, Hispanic patients) Programs on caring for diverse cultures (Muslim women, Hispanic patients) Programs focused on the connection between cultural competency and patient satisfaction Programs focused on the connection between cultural competency and patient satisfaction Mentoring in Search techniques; Librarian involved Mentoring in Search techniques; Librarian involved Mentored staff in abstract submissions Mentored staff in abstract submissions Mentored staff in podium and poster presentations Mentored staff in podium and poster presentations Mentored staff in writing for publication Mentored staff in writing for publication Mentored staff in proposal development Mentored staff in proposal development Mentored staff in quantitative and qualitative statistical analysis Mentored staff in quantitative and qualitative statistical analysis Educational programs featuring outside speakers on nursing research and culture (Dr. Ann Curley, Nurse Researcher; Dr. Purnell, Dr. Pacquaio, Dr. Zoucha) Educational programs featuring outside speakers on nursing research and culture (Dr. Ann Curley, Nurse Researcher; Dr. Purnell, Dr. Pacquaio, Dr. Zoucha) Development of Newsflash, a quarterly newsletter published by the Research Council to communicate nursing research activities at SMC, as well as any staff news Development of Newsflash, a quarterly newsletter published by the Research Council to communicate nursing research activities at SMC, as well as any staff news Development of a booklet of abstracts featuring 15 EBP projects and 2 original research projects presented at the 2009 Annual Nursing Research Day at SMC Development of a booklet of abstracts featuring 15 EBP projects and 2 original research projects presented at the 2009 Annual Nursing Research Day at SMC Action Plan References The purpose of developing the Nurse Researcher role at the medical center was: 1)To reduce the theory practice gap 2) To educate, motivate and engage direct care staff RNs in original research, evidence-based pracice 3)To mentor direct care RNs in the entire gestalt of the research process from inception of idea culminating in dissimination of research findings via poster/podium presentations and publication 4)To facilitate change in the organizational culture that encourages scholarly inquiry at the bedside 5)To preare for Magnet credentialing Purpose Chair Research Council Chair Research Council Facilitate Journal club, both general and at unit level Facilitate Journal club, both general and at unit level Serve as a member of the Leadership team., Management Council, Performance Improvement Council, Serve as a member of the Leadership team., Management Council, Performance Improvement Council, Practice Council, and IRB (ad hoc member) Practice Council, and IRB (ad hoc member) Coordinator of SMCs Annual Research Day Coordinator of SMCs Annual Research Day Provide education for staff in EBP and Research Provide education for staff in EBP and Research Provide educational programs based on staff needs in collaboration with other academic colleagues Provide educational programs based on staff needs in collaboration with other academic colleagues Provide education on cultural competency and using cultural models in clinical practice using Leininger’s theory Provide education on cultural competency and using cultural models in clinical practice using Leininger’s theory Provide education on application of Watson’s caring theory in clinical practice Provide education on application of Watson’s caring theory in clinical practice Provide education on using Melnyk’s model to develop EBP projects Provide education on using Melnyk’s model to develop EBP projects Developing the Role Developing the Role Resources Needs Assessment∙ Nursing Reference Center –databases purchased Meetings with CNO, VP∙ SPSS 18 & Nvivo 8 software for data analysis Meetings with CNO, VP∙ SPSS 18 & Nvivo 8 software for data analysis Meetings with Directors∙ Medical Libraria Meetings with Directors∙ Medical Libraria Meetings with Nurse Managers∙ Nursing Reference Center icon on unit computers Meetings with Nurse Managers∙ Nursing Reference Center icon on unit computers Meetings with APNs, Clinical Specialists∙ Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt’s EBP text presented Meetings with APNs, Clinical Specialists∙ Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt’s EBP text presented Discussion with Research Council Members to Research Council Members Discussion with Research Council Members to Research Council Members Conclusions Following Needs Assessment∙ Conclusions Following Needs Assessment∙ Purnell’s Guide to Culturally Competent on nursing Education needed for staff regarding EBP, Education needed for staff regarding EBP, nursing units research basics, and transcultural nursing Launch Journal Club Launch Journal Club CONCLUSIONS – Six Years Later References provided upon request Acknowledgements Maureen Schneider Crystal Hobbs