The persistent divide between academic and clinical worlds remains a significant barrier to the advancement of nursing research and clinical practice. To pursue timely and meaningful research, academics need their fingers on the pulse of current clinical practice and issues. Likewise, to provide evidence-based care, nurses must seek new knowledge and integrate emerging research findings into their practice. Regrettably, these worlds are largely siloed. The absence of dialogue risks reducing nursing research to an academic exercise and rendering clinical practice obsolete. The metaphorical “ivory tower” is emblematic of academics’ distance and disconnect from the real world, and clinical practice lags years behind the latest research. We are fortunate to have individuals with the interests and training to bridge the divide: nurse clinician-scientists. This editorial emphasizes the critical need to support and empower clinician-scientists—nurses who excel in both patient care and research.
Clinician-scientists are key to closing the research-practice gap. We need more of these cross-trained individuals who both generate and apply new knowledge; but we also fail to take full advantage of those we already have. Fostering this workforce demands a strategic approach that bolsters support for and utilization of nurse scientists in collaboration with physician-scientists. Together, they engage in designing research that confronts real-world health challenges, promote the adoption of innovative healthcare practices, and guide the next generation of nurses in mastering both research and clinical skills. Nurse-scientists, alongside their interdisciplinary colleagues, play a crucial role in generating evidence to improve patient care and advocating for the sustainable adoption of new practices in healthcare settings (Berger et al., 1999; Granger et al., 2021).
Nonetheless, clinician-scientists face significant hurdles, including limited research time and insufficient funding. The prevailing division within professional roles often forces nurses to choose between clinical duties and research, despite a growing interest in pursuing dual careers. This situation highlights the need for structural changes to create an environment where clinical and research endeavors are not only compatible but mutually beneficial. A significant barrier is the lack of protected time for clinical practice in academic roles and, similarly, insufficient time allocated for research in clinical appointments (Tubbs-Cooley et al., 2013). We can remove barriers that too often make clinical and academic roles mutually exclusive. While unlocking the full potential of existing nurse-scientists, greater opportunity to integrate roles will also attract more candidates to pursue such cross-training and thereby help meet demand.
We propose three actionable strategies for clinical and academic institutions to support this vision:
Trans-institutional Forums: Establishing trans-institutional academic-clinical forums for the exchange of ideas and identification of clinical questions needing research attention aligned with healthcare systems’ strategic priorities. The American Organization of Nurse Leaders (AONL) offers exemplars for overcoming barriers to this partnership through academic-practice partnerships (American Organization of Nurse Leaders, 2023).
Joint Appointments: Creating roles that blend clinical responsibilities with dedicated research time would allow nurses to thrive in both spheres, facilitating the direct application of research findings in patient care. Organizations may consider adopting dual roles for nurse clinician-scientists by clearly delineating one’s role and responsibilities and allocating time for clinical and research activities, supported by standardized role definitions for nurse scientists (American Organization of Nurse Leaders, 2023).
Targeted Support: Removing barriers for nurses pursuing dual roles through flexible scheduling, protected research time, and funding opportunities. Developing targeted funding programs and research fellowships specifically for clinical-based nurse scientists can make research funding more accessible and support their research endeavors, thereby unlocking the full potential of existing nurse scientists (Grady & Gough, 2015).
By advocating for these strategies, we aim to cultivate a healthcare ecosystem that is innovative, evidence-based, and deeply focused on patient care. Through such integrated efforts, nursing will continue to lead in driving patient care innovation and progress.
Biographies
Kathryn A. Riman
Andrew M. Dierkes
Allison A. Norful
References
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