Building a nursing research fellowship in a community hospital

Often, registered nurses feel that they are using "evidence" to guide practice, but in reality the sources of evidence are not based on research. The nursing leadership team at Northwest Community Hospital was committed to integrating evidence-based practice and nursing research into the clinical setting for RNs at all levels of the organization. The scope of the fellowship program enabled direct care RNs to receive protected release time for a 12-month period to develop a research proposal, implement the study, and disseminate the findings. The Nursing Research Fellowship Program was successful from the perspective of the Magnet appraisers who recognized the program as a Magnet exemplar, the chief executive officer, the CNE, members of the nursing leadership team, professional colleagues, the fellows and partners, and registered nurses at all levels in the organization. Nursing research is now part of the professional nursing culture.