Using available resources to implement research

Nurses practicing in hospital settings are in a unique position to become involved in research. Day-to-day contact with a variety of patients offers the ideal opportunity to launch an investigation based on actual or potential nursing problems. Often these nurses are not aware of the resources that could help them implement a study that would provide valuable data to staff and others who work with a similar patient population. The purpose of this article is to aid staff nurses in initiating research by discussing resources that may be available within their immediate geographical area.