[Difficulties and opportunities for research as perceived by nurses in Asturias (Spain)]

To identify, through communicative consensus, the difficulties and opportunities for research perceived by nurses in Asturias (Spain).

The Regional Ministry of Health and the Health Service of Asturias made an open call and 80 nurses from all fields (clinical, teaching, and management) were assigned to 10 groups. Using a nominal group technique, these nurses identified and prioritized the difficulties and opportunities they perceived for research. Through independent pairs, the research group analyzed the content of the contributions made.

In order of priority, the difficulties perceived were related to training deficit, lack of resources, lack of available time, little acknowledgement and support, and professional idiosyncrasy and sociology. The opportunities perceived were grouped into training opportunities, material resources -when known to exist-, support from experts, access to information resources, the existence of financial support, and time available when working in primary care.

The nurses identified the difficulties and opportunities that should be taken into account if strategies to stimulate nursing research are to be established. The situation should continue to be analyzed in order to provide possible solutions to the difficulties encountered, especially those related to professional idiosyncrasy and sociology.