Table 1.

Barriers to Research-Based Nursing Practice Nurse Barriers Lack of: * Time * Motivation * Confidence * Research Knowledge * Interest/Value for Research * Awareness of Current Research * Confidence in Research Findings * Flexibility/Willingness to Change Research Barriers Lack of: * Relevance to Practice * Replication * Rigorous Methodology * Believable Findings * Appropriate Recommendations Organizational Barriers Lack of: * Access to Journals/Research Resources * Funding to Support New

Technology * Expectations for Research Participation * Rewards/Positive Reinforcement Staff * Time Allocated for Research Participation * Staff Empowerment to Make Changes * Support from Administrators or MDs * Acceptance of Risk-Taking and Change Communication Barriers Lack of: * Collaboration Between Researchers & Clinicians * Presentations to Audiences in Practice * Publications in Clinical Journals * Understandable Research Publications * Availability of Consultants to Help Critique

Table 2. Strategies to Promote Research-Based Nursing Practice Educators * Use Research to Support Lectures * Incorporate Research in Clinical Assignments * Focus BS Content on Critique vs. Conduct * Focus MS Content on Utilization vs. Conduct * Strive to Make Research Exciting Researchers * Focus on Current Clinical Problems * Disseminate Results Quickly * Present Locally, Regionally, and Nationally * Publish in Clinical Journals, as well as Scientific * Clearly Delineate Practice Implications of Results Administrators * Establish a Research-Friendly Culture * Encourage Clinicians to Question Traditions * Reward Risk-Taking and Innovation * Require Research Basis for Practice Changes * Incorporate Research Role in Job Descriptions * Provide Research Resources: Literature, Internet Access, Consultants * Encourage and Support: Continuing Education, Conference Participation, and Publishing * Role Model Research Collaboration Clinicians

* Question Practice Traditions * Stay Abreast of the Literature * Commit to Continuous Learning: Continuing Education, Professional Organizations, Advanced Degrees * Collaborate with Researchers: Relay Clinical Issues and Questions * Support Research Conduct in the Clinical Setting * Take the Risks to Make Changes and Improve Practice Educators Nurse educators are crucial role models in the process of providing the foundation for research-based practice. Their ability to foster an appreciation for research instills this value in nursing students. The challenge for the nurse educator is to make research an exciting and integral part of nursing education and eventually practice. When nurse educators refer to research findings regularly in their lectures, include research-based publications in their reference lists, and continually refer students to research articles, the students will soon get the message that research is an important foundation for practice. Research should not be limited to only a single course, but rather be a constant emphasis. Clinical seminars should also include a discussion of research-based articles appropriate to that specific clinical rotation each week in the post-conferences. Students should be encouraged to seek the "newest" research findings in their field so they can possess the most current practice. Undergraduate students should complete their program with the ability to critique current research studies rather than writing a research proposal for a study they will not conduct. Since many master's programs now focus on nurse practitioner education, graduate students can benefit from participation in research utilization projects. This will better reflect the skills they will need to use after graduation.

Nursing research is a vital component to the health care field. Nursing research helps implement

new changes in the life long care of individuals and is used to develop treatments that provide the most optimum level of care. Nursing research focuses on developing and promoting high levels of standards in the following areas: high quality management of patients during long term illnesses, developing advancements that aid patients in recovery, developing standards that help reduce the numbers of disease in the community, promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing the onset of preventable diseases and illnesses, helping to instill techniques and treatments that increase the quality of life in patients with degenerative diseases, as well as easing the transition for those who are facing the end of life.

Nursing research encompasses a holistic approach and views the treatment of the patient, family members, and caregivers as a whole. By developing healing methods that focus on the whole community involved in the patient's care, there is a greater level of effectiveness when new techniques are implemented. By utilizing this holistic approach, quality of care is enhanced and the patient will receive the best care. The health field makes significant advances every day. As science unfolds and expands man's concept of the boundaries of medicine, we can expect that this will cause considerable and important leaps in the area of health and treatments. With Nursing Research, these new changes will continue to be implemented and developed into therapies and treatments that will ultimately bring faster healing and better quality of lifeto the patients who need them most. These therapies are not only for the bettering of the patient, but also for the community as a whole. Scientific progress and discovery means less disease, fewer illnesses, more vaccines, and a better quality of life for the community as a whole.