The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Research Council 2022 Strategic Priorities, developed by the ANCC's Research Council to achieve its mission to "shape the future of nursing and healthcare by building capacity for a culture of inquiry that advances interprofessional, practice-based research," were widely disseminated and discussed at different forums (SDC #1, http://links.lww.com/JONA/B11). In multiple opportunities, workshops and open sessions were led by this voluntary advisory body that includes members with diverse professional backgrounds and expertise in nursing research and healthcare. Feedback received was thoroughly analyzed and carefully considered. Overall, comments strongly suggested that, to achieve success toward nurse-led, practice-based research, "all frontline nurses must be included in research," and this guided the Council to turn the Research Priorities into easy-to-carry-forward and achievable actionable items.1
A Nursing-Led Practice-Based Research Agenda
The practice of nursing based on research adheres to standards for high quality and safety, all while focusing on patients' needs. This is the reason why evidence-based practice is typically part of the RN-to-BSN program curriculum. However, in the practice setting, bedside nurses often feel separated from research projects that usually have a heavy focus on academic research. Clinical nurses are at a vantage point of the care continuum. They are the experts at the root of the study. Including frontline nurses in research is a must that not only helps bridge the gap between practice and research but also can shape the future of healthcare.
Leveraging nurses' roles in practice-based research is critical to help disseminate a research agenda that aligns with The Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity report recommendations.2
Inclusive Interprofessional Research
Evidence shows that clinical outcomes and health disparities can be improved through interprofessional collaboration among multidisciplinary clinicians, researchers, and patients. However, it is observed that the "nurse-led research" term is confused with "nurse-only research." Nurses around the world struggle to build the needed research capacity to support high-performing interdisciplinary teams. The importance of developing an overall strategic approach, clearly communicated and accompanied by effective leadership, was a point of common agreement3 not only in the literature but also among those providing feedback to the Research Council. Nursing research support should be managed with inclusive interdisciplinary approaches that foster the culture of inquiry and facilitate environments of training and collaboration.
Actionable Items
ANCC Research Council 2022 Research Priorities included disseminating a research agenda for practice-based research, promoting interprofessional research, and encouraging equitable and inclusive participation on research teams. During the "ANCC Research Council Priorities: A Path Forward in Nurse-Led Research" session at the ANCC National Magnet(R) and ANCC Pathway to Excellence(R) conference, the audience shared other ideas such as increased research-dedicated funds, monetary support, professional connections between researchers and clinicians, networking opportunities, learning environments, and hands-on research resources.
Magnet nurses' voices were loud and clear, and the Research Council was quick to recommend several steps forward that include reassigning funds to the Margretta Madden Styles Credentialing Research Grants, continuing to partner with organizations such as the American Nurses Foundation and Sigma Theta Tau International on practice-based nurse-led research funding, and sponsoring key nursing research initiatives related to the value of nursing, multisite research, and data standardization.
Final Thoughts
Nurses are well versed on the importance of practice-based research to provide high-quality services and improve health outcomes. Different barriers make it difficult for nurses in clinical practice and nursing as profession to lead and participate in research that is significant to their complex practice environments and can contribute to nursing science. To drive effective interventions in clinical settings through research, a possible alternative is to include all frontline nurses in research, reorienting efforts toward nurse-led practice-based research and following through with the 2022 Research Priorities actionable items. If you have additional questions for the ANCC Research Council regarding its 2022 Research Priorities actionable items, please contact us at mailto:[email protected].
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