Looks like Cherry Ames is doing some research of her own!

Wonder where she got her funding?

We know it wasn’t from the National Institute of Nursing Research. It became part of the National Institutes of Health long after Cherry retired!

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The amount of information available on the NINR web site is phenomenal.

Before I get into the research and training aspects of the Institute, it is important to understand the basis and purpose of the associated grants/funding/research.

In a previous column I noted that the goal of the NINR was to support “clinical and basic research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span”.

The NINR focuses on three areas, as listed in the Mission Statement

• The promotion of health

• The promotion of quality of life for those with chronic illness

• Increasing scientific support for end-of-life care

Research in these areas are funded by grants to universities, research organizations and in-house at the NINR intramural labs in Bethesda. Interdiciplinary collaborations and a comprehensive approach are hallmarks of NINR-funded research projects.

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So, what does the NINR hope to accomplish with intramural programs and by funding external research projects? The Strategic Plan lays this out succinctly. The NINR supports:

• Research that achieves scientific distinction - that makes a significant contribution

• Studies that help promote high-quality, cost-effective care while contributing to the scientific base of nursing practice

• The communication and dissemination of NINR funded research findings

• Providing education for RN researchers and opportunities for career development

In addition to the main Strategic Plan, there is also a Strategic Plan to Reduce Health Disparities. This is accomplished by:

• Including cultural and ethnic concerns in the various areas of research funding

• By soliciting research and training applications that specifically address disparities

• By expanding the existing research infrastructure that is addressing health care disparities

• Getting information out to the public - enhancing outreach efforts.

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Last week, my blogger colleague Terri profiled the director of the NINR, Patricia A. Grady, PhD, RN, FAAN (”Leadership in Nursing Research“), a very dynamic woman whose enthusiasm for research is contagious.

I have to say, after spending some time at the NINR site, the idea of research as a career choice seems very inviting!

Next week, we’ll look at the research and training available to us through the Institute.

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Resource: National Institute Of Nursing Research. (16). Developing Nurse Scientists. Retrieved June 25, 2007, from National Institutes of Health Web Site: http://www.ninr.nih.gov/Training/OnlineDevelopingNurseScientists/