A collaborative approach to nursing research: Part I, The process

Although many nurse practitioners may be interested in documenting aspects of their practice through research, resource and time constraints can limit the opportunity. Collaboration can be a practical and rewarding approach to making research feasible for clinicians. Under the auspices of a professional nursing organization, a group of San Francisco Bay area nurse practitioners conducted a survey designed primarily to increase membership in their organization. This article details the process by which the research was conducted and serves as a guide for clinicians about to undertake a similar project.