Developing a nursing researchculture in the university and health sectors in Western Sydney, Australia

Abstract

The context for the development of a research culture in both the health and education sectors in Australia is similar to that in other developed countries. Contextual factors, especially those resulting from increasing fiscal constraint, militate against improved research productivity for nurses in both university and health sectors. Despite this, however, an impressive range of initiatives have been designed and introduced, both unisectorally and intersectorally, in the last 14 months to expedite the development of a nursing research culture in Western Sydney. The former include, in the University of Western Sydney (UWS), reward systems for research productivity and development, the funding of Designated Research Groups and Faculty Research Support Units. In the health service they include the funding of a Clinical Development Unit (Nursing) - CDU(N) - leadership program and the provision in 1997-98 of seed funds for research projects to be undertaken in the CDU(N)s. Intersectoral initiatives include the joint funding of four ‘clinical’ nursing Chairs, other subprofessorial positions and a ‘flagship’ series of nursing research seminars. All these initiatives will be described, together with an assessment of their impact to date, in terms of (1) research productivity, (2) improved intersectoral relationships and (3) heightened visibility and appreciation of nursing and nursing research.