Congress Abstracts 2004

26

CLINICAL SCHOLAR AWARD: A MENTORED RESEARCH PROGRAM. Martha Healey, FNP, Margaret Vettese, PhD, RN, Mary Cooley, PhD, RN, Angela Epshtein, MA, and Susan Bauer Wu, DNSc, RN, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA.

Clinical oncology nurses are well positioned to identify research questions to improve practice. Clinical nurses, however, generally lack advanced research training and knowledge to independently conduct nursing studies. Mentored research experiences provide opportunities to enhance scholarship and evidence-based practice.

Recognizing the value of oncology nursing research and the clinician’s ability to identify important questions, a mentored program, Clinical Scholar Award (CSA), was established at a major cancer center, which was without a nursing school. Barriers considered were lack of time, money, and knowledge. Linking a clinician with a nurse scientist and providing a mechanism for release time and money to carry out a small study are the essence of the CSA.

Members of the nursing research department developed guidelines for application, review, and implementation of the CSA. Input was solicited on site and from outside institutions. The CSA consists of a two-year commitment for a nurse scientist to mentor a clinician, four hours/week salary support, and $7,500 to carry out the project. In Spring 2003, the first call for applications was emailed to staff/managers. Award description and the application were added to the department’s website. Application process included submission of a problem statement, a personal statement, an identified research team of 2–4 members to assist with project, a letter of reference, and a letter of support from the supervisor. Each application had one primary and two secondary reviewers. A 12-person multidisciplinary review team convened to discuss and score applications.

Development, application, and review processes have proved successful for the first CSA. Four applications were received. The first recipient was announced at the annual dinner during Nurses Week and has started the program. All applicants received written review summaries. Individual meetings held with applicants and review team members allowed for feedback on the application/review processes. Overall feedback from applicants and reviewers was positive. Minor suggestions will be incorporated next year.

A mentored research program allows clinical oncology nurses to formulate questions based on practice, conduct research in familiar clinical settings, and influence practice. This process extends research from academic to clinical environment and promotes evidenced-based practice.