title: Bridging research and practice through the Nursing Research Facilitator Program in British Columbia.
abstract: As Canadian health systems transform to meet changing needs, grounding nursing practice in evidence remains an essential goal for providing safe, high-quality care. nursing research facilitators (NRFs) are strengthening the use of evidence in nursing practice across the province of British Columbia. NRFs are nurses with a research background, whose work is focused on supporting people within health systems to use and do research in their practice and decision-making. Since this role was established in 2009, NRFs have provided facilitative support to over 50 funded research projects, led numerous workshops and journal clubs, and conducted more than 600 research-related consultations. In this paper, we discuss the role and offer exemplars of creative ways in which NRFs are strengthening nurses' engagement in doing and using research by developing capacity for research and evidence-informed practice, building meaningful partnerships and cultivating a culture of curiosity among nurses and other healthcare providers. We reflect on factors contributing to the success of this role and some of the challenges of integration. The paper concludes with a comment on the strategic value of the role.
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Facilitator, Interior Health Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Okanagan Kelowna, BC.
authors.forename: Katrina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Plamondon
authors.affiliation: Past Nursing Research Facilitator, Fraser Health Surrey, BC PhD Student, University of British Columbia, School of Nursing Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Charlene
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ronquillo
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Facilitator, Northern Health Prince George, BC.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Axen
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Facilitator, Providence Health and Vancouver Coastal Health Adjunct Professor, School of Nursing, University of British Columbia Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Agnes
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Facilitator, Vancouver Island Health Authority Victoria, BC.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cummings
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research Facilitator, Provincial Health Services Authority Vancouver, BC.
authors.forename: Bubli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chakraborty
mesh_terms: D001955:British Columbia; D015400:Clinical Nursing Research / Q000193:education*; D055318:Evidence-Based Nursing / Q000639:trends*; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000639:trends*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000639:trends; D012109:Research Support as Topic / Q000639:trends