The challenges of clinical nursing research: strategies for successful conduct

Although the literature is replete with stringent methodological guidelines for designing experimental and quasi-experimental studies, there is a paucity of literature addressing the challenges of conducting these studies in the "real world" of the clinical setting. This article describes the challenges experienced by a team of researchers conducting a study in the acute care setting, including those associated with navigating organizational restructuring and managing within a climate of uncertainty. The study focused on the evaluation of a nurse-delivered smoking cessation intervention for hospitalized cardiac patients. As each particular challenge emerged, strategies were developed. By explicating these challenges and strategies, we hope to help clinical researchers deal with challenges proactively rather than reactively.