Research utilization and clinical nurse educators: A systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Clinical nurse educators and other linking agents such as clinical nurse specialists, advanced nurse practitioners, and nurses working in research leadership positions are an important link in the facilitation of evidence-based practice in health care organizations.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a systematic review of the literature regarding clinical nurse educators and research utilization, using the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services framework as a backdrop for the analysis.


RESULTS
There is a positive relationship between research utilization and attitude toward research, higher levels of education, and reading professional nursing journals among clinical nurse educators. The authors suggest that not all clinical nurse educators have the necessary critical appraisal skills and research knowledge to use research effectively in practice.


CONCLUSIONS
Few studies have examined clinical nurse educators and the determinants of their research utilization behaviour in clinical practice. Future research on clinical nurse educators needs to focus on the outcomes of research utilization, including the effectiveness of their role as facilitators and the contexts in which they practice.
Milner
Margaret
M
Knowledge Utilization Studies Program, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. margaret.milner@ualberta.ca
Estabrooks
Carole A
CA
Myrick
Florence
F
D015400:Clinical Nursing Research; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D009720:Nurse Clinicians; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education*; D009936:Organizational Innovation