Service and Faculty Partnerships: The Nurse Scientist Program

1. Service and Faculty Partnerships: The Nurse Scientist Program Linda Searle Leach, PhD, RN, CNAA Assistant Professor UCLA School of Nursing Nurse Scientist Kaiser Permanente Southern California

2. Nurse scientist program at KP Motivating forces Expected outcomes Selection process Role description Goals and contribution Evaluation Tools from each component Session Purpose

3. Motivating Forces • Scientific inquiry to advance nursing • Bring resources • Show need for by producing the benefits of • Promote nursing research • Research mentoring • The gap between research & practice • Strategies to address • Professional development • Best available evidence

4. Expected Outcomes • Partnership between nursing faculty and nurses in the clinical setting • Faculty • Access to clinical settings and patients to generate research • Nurses • Knowledgeable resource • Mentoring

5. Expected Outcomes • Barriers to research use • Isolation from colleagues with research skills • Leadership involved •  Research activity • Knowledge and involvement in research process • Use of evidence to inform practice • Research studies • New graduate RNs seek evidence-rich environments

6. Research Nurse Scientists are integrated throughout the organization Nursing practice is evidence-based by all nurses. Nursing practice is evidence-based by all nurses. VISION KP nursing research recognized as an international leader. Research synergy is embedded throughout the organizational culture Nursing research standards are integrated throughout the continuum of care Nurse Scientists are integrated throughout the organization M I S S I O N Nursing research is fully integrated into the collaborative research agenda with KP “Nursing practice is evidence based, wherever it is practiced” CHALLENGES 5. Establish internal and external funding for nursing research projects SUPPORTS 4. 75% of evidence-based Scal project findings will be implemented across the Scal Region 3. Institutionalization of the research residency and fellowship programs. 2. Integration of nursing research standards wherever patient care is delivered. 1. Implementation of the nursing research standards at 100% of the medical centers.* B O L D S T E P S VALUES *Standards need to include: -Templates for procedure development that are evidenced based -Templates for local communication plans

7. Selection Process: Criteria • Doctoral preparation • Research as principle investigator • Experience consulting with clinicians • Research ethics training • Protection of human subjects • Health information privacy (HIPAA) • Peer-reviewed publication • Recommended • Experience bridging academic/clinical • National level presentations • Translational research

8. Selection Process • Dossier • Peer review panel • Criteria • Formal appointment • Tools • Role description • Appointment letter

9. Selection Process: Dossier • Letter of Interest • Curriculum vitae • Two letters of reference • Evidence of research ethics training • Evidence of scholarly work

10. Selection Process: Peer Review • Nursing Research Tenure committee • Regional nursing research committee • 3 members • Local RN research leader • Committee chair • Director nursing research program • ex officio • Local chief nursing officer (CNO)

11. Selection Process: Criteria • Level of research expertise • Completed studies • Funded grants • Publications • Presentations • Alignment of research interests • Local hospital needs or concerns • Nurse scientists expertise and interests

12. Research consultation Proposals Interpret feedback Next steps in the research process Presentations & articles Academic liaison Inform others Share strategies Group participation Research teams National recognition teams Magnet journey Values consistency Policies Procedures Regulations Nurse Scientist Role Duties

13. Nurse Scientist Role Duties • 3 year appointment • 6 month probation period • Status is employee • Non-paid position • Contract with schools of nursing for fulfillment of employment criteria • Ex: Current license

14. Goals and Contribution • Goals - RN development to participate in research • Develop knowledge & evidence • Support best nursing practices - Average 12 hours/month • Collaboration Chief Nursing Officer - Goal-setting - Organizational needs - Skills & abilities of nurse scientist • Tools - Sample goals and format

15. Evaluation • Probation period • Evaluated at 6 months • Opportunity to check • Satisfaction • Realistic and feasible goals • Annual • Consistent with other employees • Goal-directed review • Input from key participants • Tools

16. Service & Faculty Partnership Exemplar: Research as a Nurse Scientist • Effectiveness of rapid response teams • Patient safety and RN role/rescuing • Builds on work of key safety initiative • Features organization as a leader in safety & research • Professional development of RNs • Participate as subjects • Nursing research residents as data collectors • Learn about research as it is carried out

17. Exemplars • Newest appointments • Dr. Lynn Doering: Integrated • Cardiovascular patient depression • Active dedicated research team • Dr. Carole Shea: New • Determine area of focus • Establish a dedicated research team

18. Our Key Discoveries • Build an infrastructure • Culture change • Work collaboratively within • Support evidenced-based practice • Use champions to lead • Teach, provide tools, mentor • Recognize and share the work • Advance research by doing it • Mentor RNs to participate • Partner with faculty nurse researchers • Show the value of research to practice

19. Participant Sharing • Questions • Comments • Contact • LLeach@sonnet.ucla.edu • Web page: http://nursingpathways.kp.org/scal/research/STTI_Vienna2007/index.html