[Nurses and medical research]

The article addresses the opportunity for companion studies as challenging instrument for the development of nursing research. Three models of study actually being conducted in Italy are presented and discussed for their specific technical aspects and with respect ot their broader implications: a) on quality of life for myocardial infarction patients (GISSI-Nursing); b) on the presence and evolution of some problems: pain, leg ulcers, treatments side effects and quality of life for chronic limb ischemia patients (i.c.a.i. Nursing); c) on epidemiology of nursing intervention for stroke patients (MAST-Nursing).