Some of the basic tools and experiences needed to understand and apply evidence-based practice, or to become a successful nurse researcher, may be developed early in a nursing student’s career. At UK, you can be a part of the Research Intern Option, where you will begin building these skills while you are an undergraduate. Research interns say that hands-on participation in a study makes research "come alive" for them. With a study’s principal investigator as mentor, they begin to really understand what "evidence-based" practice means. They can immediately apply the research tools to their nursing careers with a better understanding of how research drives practice. Later, they may want to pursue graduate education where they learn how to develop a research program, develop networks, prepare presentations and write grants.

Our Research Intern Option, taken as an independent study course, might be right for you.

Objectives

• Complete human subjects protection training. All research interns are required to complete the online course on Protection of Human Subjects as part of the intern experience. The research faculty mentor will guide the research intern through this process. Web-based human protection training instructions can be found at: www.research.uky.edu/ori/human/Human_Research_Mandatory_Education.htm.
• Participate in and contribute to research team meetings
• Assist with recruitment, screening, and tracking of participants in a study
• Assist with data management
• Assist in the development of a grant application
• Assist in the development of a manuscript, research poster or PowerPoint presentation
• Develop a scholarly presentation with an abstract for submission to the Student Scholarship Showcase (usually due in January)
• Develop a scholarly paper for submission to Kaleidescope, the University of Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship (usually due March 30), http://www.uky.edu/Kaleidoscope/

How do you get involved?

Sophomore- or junior-level students with a 3.0 GPA in nursing may participate in this option by registering for NUR 882-002. Interns commit to at least two and up to six semesters. Interested students should talk with their academic advisor, who will help them find a faculty mentor. The intern and mentor together will develop a prospectus for each semester.

For more information, read an overview of the program and see a sample prospectus.* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Free download.

Questions? Contact the associate dean of undergraduate studies,  Patricia Burkhart, PhD, RN, at pvburk2@email.uky.edu, or
(859) 323-6253.