Changing the culture of mental health nursing : the contribution of nursing clinical development units

The reluctance of nurses to utlilise research findings in their practice has been extensively discussed in the literature. Nursing clinical development (NCDU) represent one approach to facilitating a greater interaction between research and nursing practice. This paper presents the results of an impact evaluation of an NCDU program operating in Victoria, Australia. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants in the NCDU program (N=14). The findings suggest an increase in accessing and utilsing research by nurses since the introduction of the program, with an increased focus on evidence-based practice.