The “What I Wish I Knew” series of articles is a service of CPNP’s Resident and New Practitioner Committee. Articles are intended to provide advice from experts for students, residents, and new practitioners. Articles are not intended to provide in-depth disease state or pharmacotherapy information nor replace any peer-reviewed educational materials. We hope you benefit from this “field guide” discussing approaches to unique problems and situations.
Incorporating research into clinical practice post-residency can be accomplished in a variety of ways. New practitioners often are focusing their efforts on their new position and its accompanying responsibilities. Unless research is an expectation of the position, it can become an afterthought in the midst of providing direct patient care. Research is incredibly rewarding and when aligned with the practice, results can even improve your practice, the services you provide, or influence the practice of others in the profession. For many when they hear the word research, the first thing that comes to their mind is conducting large, randomized controlled trials that are difficult to get funded, require a lot of time to conduct, and that are not feasible to fit into a busy clinical or teaching schedule. Research efforts can come in many packages and be incorporated into everyday practice, if a concerted effort is implemented.