Nursing Science: Claiming the Future.

Throughout its 30-year history, the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) has been instrumental in establishing the scientific foundation for health and health care. The NINR stimulates innovation in nursing science by building bridges across basic, clinical, and communitybased science. NINR-supported scientists conduct interdisciplinary research across traditional boundaries to better understand the experiences of individuals and families living with chronic health conditions and to develop personalized approaches that maximize the health and well-being for individuals at all stages of life and across diverse populations and settings.As one of 27 institutes and centers of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the NINR occupies a unique and significant place within the NIH community, with a focus on guiding the nation's nursing science research agenda and improving quality of life, as reflected in its mission to promote and improve the health of individuals, families, and communities.As the NINR marks its 30th anniversary, the current healthcare environment poses challenges and opportunities that are particularly relevant to the NINR's research interests, including changing demographics linked to multicultural diversity and a population that is living longer with an increased likelihood of multiple chronic illnesses. In partnership with their healthcare providers, individuals with chronic and often complex conditions now play a key role in guiding their own care through self-management. As a consequence, family and friends have greater roles as caregivers and are an important source of support. Health disparities and a lack of access to health care continue to be a challenge to the health and well-being of some communities. Healthcare system reforms have led to new healthcare policies as the demand for improved and more accessible preventive and primary care services grows and policy-makers and other stakeholders require more value for their healthcare investment. Innovative approaches and tools, such as precision medicine that individualizes prevention and treatment, and data science, which has the potential to advance the understanding of human health, have emerged as promising opportunities to improve health outcomes and quality of life.Implementing the NINR's Strategic Plan to Address Health Care Challenges Through Nursing ScienceWhile the current healthcare environment poses challenges, it also represents opportunities for the NINR and nursing science community to claim the future by addressing the challenges with thoughtful, innovative, and interdisciplinary approaches. The NINR Strategic Plan seeks to harness the strengths of nursing science to drive an ambitious research agenda that will meet current and future healthcare needs and anticipate future health challenges and priorities (NINR, 2011). Past scientific accomplishments help to inform the implementation of the Strategic Plan through four key themes: symptom science-promoting personalized health strategies; wellness-promoting health and preventing illness; self-management-improving quality of life for individuals with chronic illness; and end-of-life and palliative care (EOL PC)-the science of compassion. The NINR's research activities continue to evolve to address these healthcare challenges. The following section provides examples of NINR-supported research findings and outreach initiatives for each of the themes.Symptom Science-Promoting Personalized Health StrategiesThe NINR's symptom science portfolio covers the lifespan to promote personalized health strategies, and to provide a better understanding of chronic illness and improve quality of life. Symptom science focuses on understanding the biological and genetic basis of symptoms to improve the management of pain, fatigue, sleep disorders, and other symptoms. For instance, one study identified factors that influence care seeking for pain in young adults with sickle cell disease. …