Coordinating multidisciplinary, collaborative research: a formula for success

Nursing continues to move toward the goal of providing care that is grounded in theory and research. As such, the CNS may perform the role of research nurse coordinator for collaborative research projects. In this article, three nursing principles that were successfully applied to the planning and conduct of multidisciplinary, collaborative research resulting in a high degree of participant satisfaction and subject retention are described. These three nursing principles are: (1) using the nursing process as an organizing framework for nursing practice, (2) delivering nursing care through a process of interpersonal relationships, and (3) allowing a humanistic philosophy to guide nursing actions. Knowledge and application of this "formula for success" will assist the CNS who is a novice at research to achieve a positive outcome in his or her endeavors.