Lessons Learned by Novice Nursing Investigators When Developing and Implementing a Research Protocol.

Area of Science:

• Clinical research methodology
• Investigator training and development

Background:

• Developing research protocols in non-academic medical centers presents unique challenges.
• Navigating clinical staff with varied experience and multiple departments requires strategic planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide actionable recommendations for novice investigators writing research protocols.
• To enhance the successful development and implementation of clinical research studies.

Main Methods:

• Lessons learned from a specific study implementation are detailed.
• Key recommendations include feasibility assessments, stakeholder engagement, and IT coordination.
• Generalizability of lessons to broader nursing research is explored.

Main Results:

• Challenges in study execution prevented generalization of specific findings.
• Identified lessons are broadly applicable to nursing research protocol development.
• The paper offers practical guidance for future novice investigators.

Conclusions:

• Implementing the lessons learned can improve the success rate of clinical research protocols.
• Strategic planning and stakeholder engagement are crucial for novice investigators.
• This paper serves as a valuable resource for developing and executing research studies.