To the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Nursing Administration:

We read with enthusiasm Berger and Polivka's "Advancing Nursing Research in Hospitals Through Collaboration, Empowerment, and Mentoring."1 As the authors point out, healthcare organizations aspiring Magnet(R) recognition must demonstrate outcomes related to research and evidence-based practice with involvement of clinical nurses. Currently, there are 424 Magnet-recognized hospitals internationally, with hundreds more on the journey. The academic clinical partnership described by the authors brings the expertise of a PhD-prepared, senior nurse researcher to the clinical facility, while answering questions posed by clinical nurses. Clinical nursing practice has been advanced by this partnership.

Hiring of nurse scientists by clinical agencies is not new. Commonly, nurse scientists help clinical nurses find existing evidence for clinical problems,1,2 guide quality improvement/small research projects,3 and role-model nursing research behaviors and skills through maintenance of their own research program. Pediatric hospitals, such as Cincinnati Children's Hospital, have been leaders in this arena. Sawin et al2 provided an excellent description of the (a) general descriptive information of nurse researchers and institution, (b) role of nurse researchers, (c) structure of the nursing research program, and (d) individual and research program outcomes. It should be noted that the roles of nurse scientists and nurse researchers vary across organizations, with differences in titles, administrative responsibilities, and expected outcomes.

The publication by Berger and Polivka stimulated 2 concerns we would like to address. First, across the country, nurses in clinical agencies that are aspiring Magnet status are being expected to support or conduct research often without appropriate academic training or access to a PhD-prepared researcher. Nurses are prepared to conduct research in a research intensive doctoral program,4 but graduates of such programs are not universally available to community hospitals. Is conducting research without the expertise of a PhD-prepared researcher, a cost-effective and ethical use of resources or a viable alternative?

Second, do the nursing curricula of academic programs for PhD students and postdoctoral students prepare students for the role of hospital-based nurse scientist/researcher? If not, what skills or experiences need to be incorporated to accomplish this important goal? Alternatively, should these skills be taught "on the job," and by whom? These are questions without a simple answer. Hopefully, our questions will lead to further discussion and further examples of excellence, led by the right category of expertise, as described by Berger and Polivka.1

Sincerely,

M. Cynthia Logsdon, PhD, WHNP-BC, FAAN

Professor, School of Nursing

University of Louisville

and Associate Chief of Nursing for Research

Laura Vento,MSN, RN, CNL

University of Louisville Hospital, Kentucky

David Morrison, RN, BSN, MA

Clinical Nurse

Emergency Psychiatric Services

University of Louisville Hospital, Kentucky

References