Use of general clinical research centers for nursing research

This study examines to what extent academic nursing faculty members understand the purpose of general clinic research centers (GCRCs) and use this resource in their programs of research. GCRCs provide a controlled research-oriented infrastructure to conduct safe, innovative, and multidisciplinary studies. Survey questionnaires were sent to associate deans of research at schools of nursing accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education or the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission within 60 miles of a GCRC. They were asked to distribute questionnaires to 20% of faculty members. Of the 186 nurse faculty members responding, 85% had not conducted research at a GCRC as a principal investigator and 69% of the sample reported that their colleges or universities do not make information about GCRCs available to new faculty. Making greater use of this valuable resource allows nurse researchers to become more involved in developing new knowledge and testing interventions and in psychological and physiologic measurements, thus doing more to fulfill the mission of nursing research and increasing the involvement of nurses in the broader community of health science research.