title: Nursing Perceptions of Clinical Research in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine perceptions of clinical research in the NICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Survey study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses (n=68) employed in a level III NICU in the midwestern United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of responses to a survey exploring perceptions of clinical research.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-seven percent of nurses (n=66) agree that clinical research is important for improving care, while 57% (n=39) report that it affects their day positively. Thirty-seven percent reported excellent communication between clinical and research teams. In addition, 27% (n=18) of nurses reported research presents complications for families, and 79% (n=54) reported that it is acceptable to cease a research protocol for infant benefit. Years of practice and whether nurses read research affected various responses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical research is imperative to inform best practice, and nurses are an integral part of care. Therefore, it is essential to better define strategies to bridge the gap between clinical and research teams.
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Crapnell
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Cori
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zarem
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Madlinger
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tiltges
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States; Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States.
authors.forename: Roberta G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Pineda
keywords: NICU; clinical research; neonatal; nursing; premature infant