Roles and Responsibilities of Clinical Nurse Researchers

A follow-up survey of 142 nurse researchers employed in clinical settings (NRECS) was conducted 10 years after the first one conducted by Knafl, Bevis, and Kirchhoff in which only 34 individuals qualified for inclusion. An 80-item questionnaire included items about the structure of the position, processes used, variables that may influence outcomes, and outside activities. When ineligible persons were excluded, the response rate was 75 per cent. Most commonly NRECS had positions in clinical settings only (55.7 per cent), offices (75.5 per cent), some staff (72.6 per cent), and secretarial support (52.8 per cent), and they usually reported to the chief nurse executives (71.7 per cent). Although the majority of NRECS reported responsibility for research activities, the average time spent on research is only 50 per cent. Most (82 per cent) have a nursing research committee, but NRECS also sit on other research-related committees in the department or hospital. Details about salary, responsibilities, and processes will be helpful to those preparing themselves or others for this role, for those who wish to start such a position for themselves or another, or for those in the role wanting to know how other NRECS perform.