Overview
Nurse researchers are scientists who study various aspects of health, illness, and health care. By designing and implementing scientific studies, they look for ways to improve health, healthcare services, and healthcare outcomes.
Nurse researchers identify research questions, design and conduct scientific studies, collect and analyze data, and report their findings. They often rely on grants to fund their work, which requires writing grant proposals and meeting certain reporting requirements. Many teach in academic or clinical settings, and often write articles and research reports for nursing, medical, and other professional journals and publications.
Nurse researchers may begin their research careers in positions such as research assistant, clinical data coordinator, and clinical research monitor. The title of principle investigator reflects the most senior research role and greatest responsibility and accountability associated with a research study. Studies conducted by these dedicated researchers are uncovering such things as new and better ways to:
- Deliver healthcare services more effectively and efficiently
- Improve quality of life for patients suffering from chronic illnesses
- Encourage patients to make healthy choices about nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle
- Assure patient safety and prevent injury and illness
- Provide care and comfort to patients at the end of life
Nurse researchers often partner with scientists in other fields, such as pharmacy, nutrition, medicine, and engineering, to better address complex questions and problems.
The results of nursing research help build the knowledge base and provide the evidence to guide interventions by nurses and other health care workers. For example, nursing research is improving prenatal care, patient recovery after heart transplant, and pain management for cancer and other patients.
You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile:
Nurse Researcher 31 Dec 2008 [pdf, 185 KB]