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Background: Research conducted in the clinical area promotes the delivery of evidence-based patient care. Involving nurses as participants in research is considered essential to link patient care with evidence-based interventions. However recruitment is influenced by nurses' competing demands and understanding engagement strategies may assist future research. Aim: This reflective analysis aimed to understand influencing factors and strategies that support successful recruitment nurses in clinical research. Method: A reflective analysis of research notes and focus group data from research with oncology nurses was completed. Results: This research identified that gaining support from key staff, understanding work constraints and developing a rapport with nurses is important. Establishing clear relevance and benefits of the research and being flexible with research requirements enabled nurses to participate in the research. Conclusion: Clear information and a willingness to accommodate the demands and dynamic nature of the environment, ensures ongoing support and engagement of nurses in the clinical setting as participants in research.
Keywords: nursing research; focus groups; nurse participants; evidence-based nursing
Introduction
Nursing has become a profession with rapidly expanding research knowledge which ensures that patient care is evidence based. One of the concerns with clinical research is working with clinicians as research partners. Previous studies have highlighted that the nurses' attitude to research is influenced by work environment and previous knowledge about research (Björkström, Johansson, & Athlin, 2014; Staffileno & Carlson, 2010). To improve nurses' understanding and engagement in the research process, a framework of collaboration, support and empowerment has been suggested; this provides an open and informed process to conduct and engage nurses in research (Björkström et al., 2014; Wintersgill & Wheeler, 2012). The purpose of this article is to describe strategies to improve recruitment of nurses as participants in research.
Background
The language of research has been identified as a barrier to engaging nurses in research by Björkström et al. (2014) who investigated nurses' interest in research using a mixed method approach. A total of 75 nurses completed a survey asking them to rate their knowledge and interest in research, and focus groups provided insight into the survey data. The results from Björkström et al. (2014) research identified that nurses lacked understanding about the research process and this influenced their attitude to being involved in research and...