Abstract
Background: The purpose of this innovative project was to systematize the research trajectory for nurse governance leadership within a national professional organization. Research priorities aimed at generating new knowledge to advance nurse governance leadership have not been established. Tantamount to driving health equity, addressing lagging health outcomes, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is the need to develop and expand the expertise of trustees and elected officials.
Methods: The Nine Common Themes of Good Practice checklist was used as a frame for the project. The checklist includes three domains: preparatory work, deciding on priorities, and after priorities have been set. Extant research data was analyzed. Research priorities were determined based on criteria from the literature and the organization’s mission and values. With feedback from diverse nurse governance experts, minor revisions to the research priorities were made and approved by the organization’s board of directors. A steering committee of the board was established to develop an implementation plan inclusive of evaluation.
Outcomes: Five research priorities were approved and include: board preparation; influence and impact of nurses on boards and nursing practice; influence and impact of nurses on boards within organizations; influence and impact of nurses on boards within communities; and influence and impact of nurses in policy and elected positions. The steering committee implemented a process to establish a research consortium, convene collaborators, identify funding, and commence research. Evaluation of the research priorities will be conducted after one year.
Implications: The implications of this work include providing an expanded scope of influence to improve health outcomes, drive health equity, and position key national and global policymakers to achieve the SDGs. New knowledge and evidence generated from the research priorities will empower nurse governance leaders to influence the complex healthcare ecosystem with an appreciation for the impact of the social determinants of health, national and global diversity, and access to communities where health equity is secured.
Notes
References:
Cleveland, K., Edmonson, C., Harper, K., Rudisill, P., Walton, A., Benson, L., Hankins, A., & Vander Horst, A. (2024, October). Purpose, power, passion, people: The impact of nurses on boards. Nurse Leader, 22(5), 515-519. doi:10.1016/j.mnl.2024.05.012
Curley, D. J., & Stone, P. W. (2024). Nurse state legislators: 2013-2023. Nursing Outlook, 72(1), 1-5. doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2023.102102
Rosa, W.E., Burnett, C., Butler, C., Rolle, P., Salvage, J., Wignall, A., & Mason, D. (2021, December). The ICN global nursing leadership institute: Integrating the SDGs into leadership and policy development. The American Journal of Nursing, 121(12), 54-58. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000803204.19511.8a
Sundean, L. J., Christopher, R., Reede, L., Mott, J., & Mylott, L. (2023). Board leaders’ perspectives of the impact of nurses on boards. Journal of Nursing Administration, 53(12), 627-633. doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000001358
Sundean, L. J., & Gatiba, P. (2022). A scoping review about nurses on boards: 2016-2022. Nursing Forum, 57(5), 739-749. doi:10.1111/nuf.12733
Viergever, R. F., Olifson, S., Gaffar, A., & Terry, R. F. (2010). A checklist for research priority setting: Nine common themes of good practice. Health Research Policy & Systems, 8(36), 1-9. doi:10.1186/1478-4505-8-36
Sigma Membership
Delta Xi
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Policy and Advocacy, Nurse Governance, National Professional Organization
Recommended Citation
Cleveland, Kimberly Ann; Sundean, Lisa J.; and Rudisill, Pamela, "Research Priorities: An Innovation to Advance Nurse Governance Leadership and Impact Health Equity" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 190.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/190
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Research Priorities: An Innovation to Advance Nurse Governance Leadership and Impact Health Equity
Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: The purpose of this innovative project was to systematize the research trajectory for nurse governance leadership within a national professional organization. Research priorities aimed at generating new knowledge to advance nurse governance leadership have not been established. Tantamount to driving health equity, addressing lagging health outcomes, and achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) is the need to develop and expand the expertise of trustees and elected officials.
Methods: The Nine Common Themes of Good Practice checklist was used as a frame for the project. The checklist includes three domains: preparatory work, deciding on priorities, and after priorities have been set. Extant research data was analyzed. Research priorities were determined based on criteria from the literature and the organization’s mission and values. With feedback from diverse nurse governance experts, minor revisions to the research priorities were made and approved by the organization’s board of directors. A steering committee of the board was established to develop an implementation plan inclusive of evaluation.
Outcomes: Five research priorities were approved and include: board preparation; influence and impact of nurses on boards and nursing practice; influence and impact of nurses on boards within organizations; influence and impact of nurses on boards within communities; and influence and impact of nurses in policy and elected positions. The steering committee implemented a process to establish a research consortium, convene collaborators, identify funding, and commence research. Evaluation of the research priorities will be conducted after one year.
Implications: The implications of this work include providing an expanded scope of influence to improve health outcomes, drive health equity, and position key national and global policymakers to achieve the SDGs. New knowledge and evidence generated from the research priorities will empower nurse governance leaders to influence the complex healthcare ecosystem with an appreciation for the impact of the social determinants of health, national and global diversity, and access to communities where health equity is secured.
Description
No research priorities exist to systematize the science of nurse governance leadership. This innovative project established research priorities for nurse governance leaders to advance health equity and outcomes. The Nine Common Themes of Good Practice checklist was used to develop five research priorities within a national nursing organization. The evidence and data generated will support nurse-leader influence nationally and globally toward the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.