Mentoring the Next Generation of Nurse Researchers: Towards a stronger and more visionary profession

Among the most important group of future leaders in nursing will be those who take up the challenge of advancing nursing research. We should be proud of what nurses have achieved in research to date, entrenching evidence-based practice, normalising the idea of co-designed studies to promote patient-centred care, leading the quality and safety agenda in clinical care, and celebrating the expertise and clinical impact of our most outstanding nurse scientists. These achievements are based on the understanding that complex healthcare issues require research to generate new knowledge. Nurses are optimally positioned to conduct research because they are knowledgeable about the complexities of care delivery and ‘wicked’ healthcare problems from the perspective of their roles as front-line, committed patient, family, and community advocates. Their work represents leadership at the point of service. Whilst great strides are being made by clinical nurse researchers in the implementation of research-based evidence into clinical practice, more support and mentorship are needed for emerging nurse scientists who aspire to investigate novel and effective approaches to clinical excellence across all healthcare settings and to help extend our knowledge base.