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Developing a best practice framework to benchmark research and development activity in nursing and midwifery

Northern Ireland Practice and Education Council for Nursing and Midwifery

Donna Fitzsimons, RGN, BSc (Hons), PhD, NFESC

Belfast City Hospital/University of Ulster

Nicola C. Armstrong, RGN, BSc (Hons), PhD

Research and Development Office for the Health and Personal Social Services in Northern Ireland

Clinical and social care governance provides a strategic climate in which research and development (R&D) is a key component. Within this context, nurses and midwives have the opportunity and responsibility to make a difference to the quality of patient care by raising the profile of their R&D activity. The R&D Best Practice Framework advanced in this paper has been developed as a mechanism to identify good practice and to help build a more positive culture within which nursing and midwifery research and development can flourish. The aim of the Framework was to identify explicit criteria for developing the nursing and midwifery R&D agenda, against which organisations can benchmark activity. The R&D Best Practice Framework was developed using a systematic approach, and resulted in the formulation of best practice statements relating to key stakeholder groups including health and care providers, education providers and R&D funders. Statements were themed under six headings: strategy development; building capacity; infrastructure; partnership working; research in practice; and outcome assessment. The potential exists for the Framework to be translated across a range of settings, to be used by organisations as a benchmark for current activity, and as a tool which can facilitate future planning.

Key Words: nursing • research and development • strategy • policy • evidence-based practice • best practice

Journal of Research in Nursing, Vol. 11, No. 2, 160-171 (2006)
DOI: 10.1177/1744987106062839


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