THE CENTRE FOR PSYCHIATRIC NURSING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE: AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO ENHANCING CLINICAL NURSING RESEARCH IN THE PSYCHIATRIC/MENTAL HEALTH FIELD

The available nursing literature suggests that nurses engaged in clinical practice hold a somewhat ambivalent attitude towards nursing research. On the one hand, its value is acknowledged, but on the other, its relevance to clinical practice is questioned. This situation poses a significant barrier to the involvement of clinicians in research and the utilisation of findings in practice. This paper describes the implementation of a model to facilitate the development of a systematic research approach at the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice in Victoria, Australia. The development of strong relationships between the Centre and the clinical field was considered crucial in determining the success of this initiative. The introduction of a number of programs to foster the conduct and utilisation of clinical research are described, including: The Nursing Clinical Development Unit Program, the Clinical Research Fellowship Program, clinical research projects, the Collaborative Psychiatric Nursing Conference and strategies to encourage the dissemination of research information. In combination, these initiatives are expected to contribute to a systematic approach to engendering a research culture within psychiatric nursing in Victoria, Australia.