Research Prescription for Undergraduate Students: Research Mentoring in a Small Liberal Arts University

Creating and executing unique research projects for completion in four semesters is a challenge especially in a small liberal arts university in a rural Health Professions Shortage Area (HPSA) with a newly established BSN program. HPSAs are designations that indicate health care provider shortages in primary care, dental health or mental health. Undergraduate research is an emerging focus across campus with limited faculty funding. Most of our nursing faculty are in the process of developing their programs of research which required faculty of the research course to become mentors for both faculty and students. This article describes one strategy utilized in establishing an undergraduate research focus within a BSN nursing program. Working in small groups with a faculty mentor, students planned and conducted their entire research study, presenting their findings to the university community in the period of four semesters of the nursing program. Research course faculty served as mentors for less experienced faculty, involving the entire nursing program in research. Research projects were conducted in institutional and community settings to improve population health in our HPSA.