How many hospitals have a nursing research policy? A Victorian survey.

Directors of nursing in 29 Victorian hospitals responded to a questionnaire which sought information on their hospitals' nursing research policies, structures and education and on the level of organisational support for nursing research. One quarter of the hospitals had nursing research policies, 45% expected nurses to be involved in research, 31% had nursing positions with primary research functions, 31% had nursing research committees and 50% provided some research education. Hospitals which had a written policy reported significantly higher levels of administrative support for nursing research and were more likely to have a designated nursing research position. It was concluded that the adoption of a policy on nursing research is associated with organisational support for nursing research in Victorian hospitals.