Nurses are responsible for assuming various research activities and roles as appropriate to their education. However, preparation for research is an evolving process along a continuum of learning. Only through the research contributions of all nurses will the profession meet its mandate to society. Research-based practice is essential if the nursing profession is to meet its mandate to society for effective and efficient patient care. The development and utilization of research in nursing practice depends upon the effective interaction of clinicians and scientists.
Clinicians are then, in a very meaningful way, the consumers of research findings.
An attitude of inquiry, as well as an introduction to the research process, should be initiated during undergraduate education. A climate should be fostered, throughout the educational process, in which research findings are sought, critiqued, and utilized in the provision of nursing care. The preparation of nurse scientists, who have primary responsibility for the conduct of research, is begun at the master's level and is concentrated at the doctoral and post-doctoral levels. Graduate education must emphasize increasing development of conceptual abilities, knowledge of research processes, as well as of scientific integrity and the prevention of scientific misconduct, investigative skills, and competence in written and oral research dissemination and evaluation and utilization of research findings. The purpose of this report statement is to inform all nurses and others interested in nursing research about the continuum of educational preparation for nursing research.