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 Program, 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 Program, 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 on-line 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 here.
- 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, University of Kentucky Journal of Undergraduate Scholarship (usually due March 30) How do you get involved?
Sophomore or junior level students with a 3.0 GPA in nursing may participate in the program 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 [PDF] and see a sample prospectus [PDF].
* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Free
download Questions? Contact the director of the undergraduate program, Patricia Burkhart, RN, PhD, at
pvburk2@email.uky.edu, or (859) 323-6253.