Lona Roll

Functional Integration of Nursing Research Into a Pediatric Oncology Cooperative Group: Finding Common Ground

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To provide a brief description of the historic role of nursing and nursing research in the culture of previous pediatric oncology cooperative groups and compare the research language used in cooperative groups with the language used in nursing research. DATA SOURCES Published empirical, clinical, and methodologic reports. DATA SYNTHESIS The culture and language of nursing research differ from those of medical research and the pediatric oncology cooperative group, the Childrens Oncology Group (COG). Different approaches exist to integrate nursing research priorities into the priorities of COG, including freestanding protocols, companion protocols, and research objectives included in therapeutic protocols. CONCLUSIONS Full integration of nursing research into COG is feasible but dependent on recognition of cultural and language differences among researchers. Integration will be demonstrated by the number of concepts and protocols contributed to or developed by active nurses in COG. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING Significant advances exist for nurses conducting research in COG. These research efforts are facilitated by a familiarity with the science language used by other disciplines in COG and an understanding of COGs research processes. Increased interdisciplinary scientific collaborations involving nurses in COG particularly benefit pediatric patients with cancer.

Engaging Nurses in Research for a Randomized Clinical Trial of a Behavioral Health Intervention

Nurse involvement in research is essential to the expansion of nursing science and improved care for patients. The research participation challenges encountered by nurses providing direct care (direct care nurses) include balancing patient care demands with research, adjusting to fluctuating staff and patient volumes, working with interdisciplinary personnel, and feeling comfortable with their knowledge of the research process. The purpose of this paper is to describe efforts to engage nurses in research for the Stories and Music for Adolescent/Young Adult Resilience during Transplant (SMART) study. SMART was an NIH-funded, multisite, randomized, behavioral clinical trial of a music therapy intervention for adolescents/young adults (AYA) undergoing stem cell transplant for an oncology condition. The study was conducted at 8 sites by a large multidisciplinary team that included direct care nurses, advanced practice nurses, and nurse researchers, as well as board-certified music therapists, clinical research coordinators, and physicians. Efforts to include direct care nurses in the conduct of this study fostered mutual respect across disciplines in both academic and clinical settings.

Online exclusive: functional integration of nursing research into a pediatric oncology cooperative group: finding common ground.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To provide a brief description of the historic role of nursing and nursing research in the culture of previous pediatric oncology cooperative groups and compare the research language used in cooperative groups with the language used in nursing research. DATA SOURCES: Published empirical, clinical, and methodologic reports. DATA SYNTHESIS: The culture and language of nursing research differ from those of medical research and the pediatric oncology cooperative group, the Childrens Oncology Group (COG). Different approaches exist to integrate nursing research priorities into the priorities of COG, including freestanding protocols, companion protocols, and research objectives included in therapeutic protocols. CONCLUSIONS: Full integration of nursing research into COG is feasible but dependent on recognition of cultural and language differences among researchers. Integration will be demonstrated by the number of concepts and protocols contributed to or developed by active nurses in COG. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Significant advances exist for nurses conducting research in COG. These research efforts are facilitated by a familiarity with the science language used by other disciplines in COG and an understanding of COGs research processes. Increased interdisciplinary scientific collaborations involving nurses in COG particularly benefit pediatric patients with cancer.

Stories and Music for Adolescent/Young Adult Resilience During Transplant Partnerships: Strategies to Support Academic-Clinical Nurse Collaborations in Behavioral Intervention Studies.

Evidence-based nursing is in the forefront of healthcare delivery systems. Federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and healthcare delivery systems recognize the importance of nursing research. This article describes the mechanisms that facilitate nursing partnerships yielding high-level research outcomes in a clinical setting. A phase-II multicenter behavioral intervention study with pediatric stem cell transplant patients was the context of this academic/clinical research partnership. Strategies to develop and maintain this partnership involved a thorough understanding of each nurse’s focus and barriers. A variety of communication plans and training events maximized preexisting professional networks. Academic/clinical nurses’ discussions identified barriers to the research process, the most significant being role conflict. Communication and validation of benefits to each individual and institution facilitated the research process during challenging times. Establishing strong academic/clinical partnerships should lead to evidence-based research outcomes for the nursing profession, healthcare delivery systems, and patients and families.