Baccalaureate student participation in a faculty research project: a win-win experience.

Abstract

Baccalaureate student involvement in a faculty research project is presented as an opportunity for faculty to integrate teaching, practice, and research, and as a mechanism for students to: a) meet clinical course objectives and b) increase their familiarity with, interest in, and understanding of the role of research in developing a scientific basis for practice. Fifteen senior nursing students functioned as research assistants (RAs) and collected psychological and pulmonary data in the homes of primary caretakers who had a school-aged child with asthma. A description of student preparation for the RA role, their experiences as RAs, and feelings following participation are reported.