Research Development in University Nursing Departments in South Africa: description of a research development model

In the field of research, nursing is in a catch-up mode and the need to rapidly develop the capacity to do research that addresses the health needs of the population is being addressed by university nursing schools in South Africa. The design and implementation of the research development programme intended to surmount this problem is described in this paper. The programme aimed at developing lead researchers within each nursing department to lead a research programme on a selected health topic. The focus was on the person as well as the department as the research platform. The lead researchers were assisted in developing a research team for their programme, in becoming part of an international network, working with a research mentor, in submitting proposals for external funding and preparing for NRF rating. This was done through a series of workshops and the appointment of a mentor for each lead researcher. The programme was successful in getting lead researchers to establish research teams in their own institutions, work with mentors and apply for external research funding

American Academy of Nursing Expert Panel consensus statement on nursing's roles in ensuring universal palliative care access.

The purpose of this consensus paper was to convene leaders and scholars from eight Expert Panels of the American Academy of Nursing and provide recommendations to advance nursing's roles and responsibility to ensure universal access to palliative care. Part I of this consensus paper herein provides the rationale and background to support the policy, education, research, and clinical practice recommendations put forward in Part II. On behalf of the Academy, the evidence-based recommendations will guide nurses, policy makers, government representatives, professional associations, and interdisciplinary and community partners to integrate palliative nursing services across health and social care settings. The consensus paper's 43 authors represent eight countries (Australia, Canada, England, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, South Africa, United States of America) and extensive international health experience, thus providing a global context for the subject matter. The authors recommend greater investments in palliative nursing education and nurse-led research, nurse engagement in policy making, enhanced intersectoral partnerships with nursing, and an increased profile and visibility of palliative nurses worldwide. By enacting these recommendations, nurses working in all settings can assume leading roles in delivering high-quality palliative care globally, particularly for minoritized, marginalized, and other at-risk populations