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 nursing research interns, where you will begin building these skills while you are an undergraduate.
Nursing 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 Nursing Research Interns Option, taken as an independent study course, might be right for you. This program received the 2009 Innovations in Professional Nursing Education Award from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.
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 Kaleidoscope, University of Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship (usually due March 30)
How do you get involved?
Sophomore- or junior-level students with a minimum 3.0 GPA in nursing may participate by registering for NUR 882-002. Interns commit to at least two but up to six semesters. Students may participate in only one nursing enrichment opportunity (i.e., nursing research interns; nursing practice interns; nursing skills lab interns) 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 [PDF] of the program and see a sample prospectus [PDF].
Questions?
Contact the coordinator of the nursing research internship, Patricia Burkhart, PhD, RN, associate dean for undergraduate studies, at pvburk2@email.uky.edu, or (859) 323-6253.