Clinical research with patients in crisis: pitfalls and solutions

Clinical research involving patients in crisis may be difficult to conduct because of the psychophysiological changes in the patient and the hectic environment of the health care setting. Clinical nurse specialists have the opportunity to expand nursing knowledge and contribute to nursing practice through initiation and/or participation in research with people in crisis. This article identifies potential pitfalls in conducting research with patients in crisis and suggests strategies for selecting a research design, data collection methodologies, and obtaining consent or approval.