Introduction

The Clinical Center Nursing Research Program enhances nursing knowledge through independent and collaborative research conducted by Clinical Center nurses. Nursing research endeavors reflect a commitment to the Clinical Center's research mission and ongoing contributions to excellence in protocol-specific patient care, patient and investigator services and research training.

 About the Program

The mission of the Nursing Research program at the NIH Clinical Center includes:

• Conducting clinical research that results in significant contributions to the clinical and health care literature

• Assessing and managing patient outcomes in order to document improvements in the process and outcomes of care for Clinical Center patients

• Advancing nursing practice through research utilization and the application of evidence-based innovations in care

• Documenting and testing care delivery innovations at the Clinical Center and collaborating sites

• Designing and implementing training programs in clinical research which expand the role potential for Clinical Center nurses interested in research and offer a national model for nursing research career development

• Providing professional leadership by taking a visible role in the external professional community and using all available approaches to discuss and communicate the outcomes of the program

 Research Career Path

Nursing research mentors assist students, interns and fellows in achieving their specific research goals. Nurses from undergraduate, graduate, and pre-doctoral through postdoctoral education levels come to the Clinical Center from local, national and international universities and organizations for short-term as well as long-term research experiences. This graphic illustrates the following Nursing Research Career levels available for mentorship: Clinical Nurse Scientist/Program Director, Post-Doctoral Training, Pre-Doctoral/Doctoral Student, Advanced Practice Nurse, Case Manager/Study Coordinator, Clinical Research Nurse, New Graduate and Undergraduate Student.