Archives
Barriers to implementing a Nursing Clinical Development Unit
Brenda Happell
Professor of Contemporary Nursing, Department of Health Innovation; Centre for Social Science Research, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton QLD
Abstract
The available literature has identified Nursing Clinical Development Units as a strategy to promote, and bring about changes in, nursing practice. While the literature has also identified a number of barriers to the effectiveness of Nursing Clinical Development Units, very little of this research has been undertaken in a mental health environment.
This paper presents findings from a qualitative evaluation of a Nursing Clinical Development Unit Program specifically targeted at the mental health field. In-depth interviews were conducted with participants of this program (n=14). Data analysis reveals the following barriers: not enough resources; grasping the concept; staff turnover; and staff resistance.
Keywords
nursing clinical development units, practice, research, nurses' attitudes to change
References
Atsalos C and Greenwood J (2001) The lived experience of clinical development unit (nursing) leadership in Western Sydney, Australia, Journal of Advanced Nursing 34: 408-416.
Creswell J (1998) Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among the Five Traditions, Sage, CA.
Flint H and Wright S (2001) Nursing Development Units: Progress and developments, Nursing Standard 15: 39-41.
Funk SG, Tornquist EM and Champagne MT (1995) Barriers and facilitators of research utilisation, Nursing Clinics of North America 30: 395-407.
Gerrish K and Ferguson A (2000) Nursing Development Units: Factors influencing their progress British Journal of Nursing 9: 626-630.
Greenwood J (1999) Clinical Development Units (Nursing): The Western Sydney approach, Journal of Advanced Nursing 29: 674-679.
Greenwood J and Kearns E (1996) Establishing a transcultural nursing development unit: the South-Western Sydney experience, Collegian 3: 27-31.
Greenwood J and Parsons M (2002a) The evaluation of a clinical development unit leadership preparation program by focus group interviews. Part 1: Positive aspects, Nurse Education Today 22: 527-533.
Greenwood J and Parsons M (2002b) The evaluation of a clinical development unit leadership preparation program by focus group interviews. Part 2: Negative aspects, Nurse Education Today 22: 534-541.
Happell B and Martin T (2004) Exploring the impact of the implementation of a nursing clinical development unit program: what outcomes are evident? International Journal of Mental Health Nursing 13: 177-184.
Hutchinson AM and Johnston L (2006) Beyond the BARRIERS Scale: Commonly reported barriers to research use. Journal of Nursing Administration 36: 189-199.
Hutchinson AM and Johnston L (2004) Bridging the divide: a survey of nurses’ opinions regarding barriers to, and facilitators of, research utilisation in the practice setting, Journal of Clinical Nursing 13: 304-315.
Scholes J (1996) Role transition and emotional labour: understanding the impact of a nursing development unit on staff and on the therapeutic milieu, NT Research 1: 286-295.
Schiereck S (2000) Social interactions between nurses and patients on a nursing development unit, PFLEGE 13: 234-241.
Walsh M (1997a) How nurses perceive barriers to research implementation, Nursing Standard 11: 34-37.
Walsh M (1997b) Perceptions of barriers to implementing research, Nursing Standard 11: 34-39.
Wright SG (1989) Defining the Nursing Development Unit, Nursing Standard 4: 29-31.
Wynaden D and Rose M (1998) Collaborative Practice: Bridging the Gap. The Australian and New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses Inc. Conference Proceedings: September 1998, Perth.

eContent Home