By Mariah Taylor

Nurse scientists are becoming a more popular staple of the hospital workforce.

Many of the top 100 systems in the U.S. have at least one clinically based nurse scientist on staff. They work closely with nurses, physicians and other clinicians to address patient care issues. Nurse scientists offer a number of benefits outside of traditional research, including providing advanced education and professional development opportunities, mentoring, boosting Magnet credentials, lead grant writing, protocol design and scholarly dissemination, and bridging the gap between bedside care and evidence-based innovation. Nurse scientists have been migrating to the hospital setting in a shift can be traced to the role’s Magnet designation, which put a major emphasis on research conducted by nurses.

The work of nurse scientists has been so impactful that most systems are looking to expand their programs.

Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope is looking to recruit additional nurse scientists to its team to lead their own programs and collaborate with colleagues who share research interests, said Virginia Sun, PhD, co-leader of City of Hope’s Cancer Control and Populations Sciences Program, and professor in department of population sciences and department of surgery.

“We also see opportunities for nurse scientists to play a bigger role nationally,” Dr. Sun said. “For instance, many of our oncology nurse scientists serve in leadership roles within the NCI’s National Clinical Trials Network, a cooperative group system funded by the federal government since the 1970s as part of the War on Cancer. These networks don’t just run drug trials anymore; they also conduct research on cancer care delivery, symptom management and caregiver support. Nurse scientists bring a unique perspective to that work, and I think there’s even more potential for us to be ‘at the table’ in shaping national research priorities.”

New York City-based NYU Langone is tapping into its nursing science fellowship and the 60 PhD-prepared nurses across the system who are not formally nurse scientists but actively engage in research.

“Even though research may not be their primary role, they’re a huge resource and part of our extended community of nursing inquiry,” said Kathleen Evanovich Zavotsky, PhD, RN, system senior director of nursing research and program evaluation at NYU Langone.

MUSC Charleston is exploring ways nurse scientists can support its Regional Health Network. The system is also investigating ways to support research workflows.

“Data extraction takes a lot of time, so we’re considering how to delegate some of that to other team members,” said Cheryl Jones, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Magnet program director at MUSC Health in Charleston, S.C.. “That would allow nurse scientists to focus on interpreting the data and applying it to practice, which is where their expertise really shines.”

New York City-based NewYork-Presbyterian developed the PEACE Model — Problem Identification, Evidence Review, Appraise the Evidence, Conduct Research or Change Practice, and Evaluate and Disseminate Findings — which is now taught internationally. This model contributes to state policy changes and establishes global best practices, said Wilhelmina Manzano, MSN, RN, group senior vice president and chief nursing executive at NewYork-Presbyterian.

At Brown University Health, nurse scientists are playing a key role in a number of avenues. This includes integrating technology and AI responsibly into practice, strengthening interprofessional understanding and teamwork by immersing new physician residents in “a day in the life of a nurse,” and engaging in strategic planning across the system to ensure nurses shape what nursing science means to them, said Karri Davis, DNP, RN, system director of professional practice at the Providence, R.I.-based system.

Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing is adding a part-time track to its PhD program to grow the pipeline of nurse scientists and exploring more joint appointments that span academia and hospital practice roles, said Marilyn Schallom, PhD, interim director of the nursing science doctorate program and a research scientist at Barnes Jewish Hospital and Barnes Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing in St. Louis.

And Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia is emphasizing how nurse scientists can articulate the value of nursing itself, said Margaret McCabe, PhD, RN, senior director of nursing research and evidence-based practice.

“After all, you can have the best physicians in the world, but without high-quality nursing care, patient outcomes will suffer,” she said. “That’s why the role is so critical — not just for generating research, but for strengthening nursing practice, advancing leadership, and ultimately transforming patient care.”

Want to add nurse scientists to your hospital?

Although nurse scientists are a growing field, many hospitals have not yet added them to their team. Here is some advice on how to get started:

Marjorie Jenkins, PhD, RN, director of nursing research for the Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health: “When I started, there was no infrastructure at all. Building that from the ground up was daunting, but now I can see the results. We’ve tapped into the talent of clinical nurse specialists, educators and professional development specialists to build capacity. If you’re in an academic setting, leverage every resource available: the IRB, statisticians, faculty, and the broader research infrastructure. Nurse scientists don’t work in isolation; they need to tap into all of that. If you’re in a non-academic setting, partnerships are key. I built relationships with two local universities by going in through the ‘back door.’ One successful joint project changed everything, and those relationships continue today. Also, look inside your organization. Quality departments, lean teams, and offices of research may already hold pockets of expertise you can use.”

Dr. Evanovich Zavotsky: “First, know your resources. You may already have PhD-prepared or DNP-prepared nurses who are eager to engage in research. Tap into local academic partners, like schools of nursing, and don’t be afraid to leverage remote connections for methodological support or data analysis. Second, start small. You don’t need a large department right away. Try one or two studies, maybe simple ones, and see where they lead. Nurses are naturally curious — they’ll gravitate toward inquiry if you provide the structure and support. Lastly, Magnet designation also helps, since it requires nursing involvement in research and evidence-based practice. But regardless, it’s about creating a culture that encourages professional curiosity and values both the art and science of nursing.”