title: Why nursing has not embraced the clinician--scientist role.
abstract: Reasons for the limited uptake of the clinician-scientist role within nursing are examined, specifically: the lack of consensus about the nature of nursing science; the varying approaches to epistemology; and the influence of post-modern thought on knowledge development in nursing. It is suggested that under-development of this role may be remedied by achieving agreement that science is a necessary, worthy pursuit for nursing, and that rigorous science conducted from a clinical perspective serves nursing well. Straddling practice and research is a powerful strategy for ensuring relevant research while forging strong links with practice. The clinician-scientist role, typically requiring a 75:25 ratio between research and clinical activities, is well established in medicine. Nursing, however, has been slow to institute the role; it is rare within North America, Australia, and western European countries, and almost non-existent outside those areas. Beyond structural obstacles, philosophical issues may explain nursing's reluctance to implement the role. Following a survey of clinician-scientist roles throughout the world, the nature of nursing science and epistemology, and the influence of post-modern thought on nursing attitudes to research are examined with respect to their influence on this role. The nurse clinician-scientist role holds promise for making strides in clinically relevant research, and for accelerating the knowledge cycle from clinical problem to research question to change in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia School of Nursing, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. mmackay@providencehealth.bc.ca
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mackay
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D032921:Consensus; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006808:Humanism; D006801:Humans; D019359:Knowledge; D009720:Nurse Clinicians / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D009734:Nursing Faculty Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D033302:Postmodernism; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012108:Research Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000523:psychology; D012586:Science / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*