Building health services research capacity in nursing: views from members of nursing's leadership [interview by Candice Cook Bowman and Deborah Gardner].
BACKGROUND
Despite a short history that dates back to the 1960s, health services research (HSR) has become an important force in shaping the delivery system in the current health care environment. Nursing has been noticeably absent from this endeavor, and if it does not increase its presence, it risks missing an important opportunity to influence future directions of health care delivery.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to evaluate the state of nursing's HSR contributions and to consider ways to increase its capacity in this arena.


METHODS
An interview with four members from nursing's leadership was conducted.


CONCLUSIONS
Nurses can increase the capacity by becoming better collaborators with those who are currently contributing to HSR, both nurses and members of other healthcare disciplines. Also, by reshaping undergraduate and graduate curricula and creating mentorships, nursing can increase its involvement through an informed workforce.


CONCLUSIONS
Solutions that were offered in this discussion are presented.
Bednash
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Quality Enhancement Research Initiative-HIV, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, Calif., USA. cbowman@vapop.ucsd.edu
Jones
C B
CB
Moody
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Wakefield
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M
D003479:Curriculum; D004506:Education, Nursing; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008611:Mentors; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011050:Policy Making; D014481:United States