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Beyond the Bedside: Nurses Conducting Research to Transform Pediatric Outcomes

Beyond the Bedside: Nurses Conducting Research to Transform Pediatric Outcomes 1024 683 Madison Storm
Teenage girl having stomach ache, young woman health care provider examining her.

Nurses are vital to clinical research – supporting and conducting it. At Nationwide Children’s Hospital, nurse scientists are dedicated to advancing prevention, diagnosis and treatment of pediatric health conditions.  

Nurses at Nationwide Children’s Hospital have long been recognized for their compassionate care and clinical expertise. These high-performing clinicians consistently collaborate with other teams to ensure the best care for every child, but their work doesn’t stop at the bedside. From coordinating complex trials to leading independent studies, nurses at Nationwide Children’s are helping shape the future of pediatric health care. 

Building Infrastructure for Nurse-Led Research 

Historically, nurses have faced significant barriers to conducting their own research. Unlike physicians, who often hold faculty appointments and have access to grant infrastructure through academic institutions, nurses at Nationwide Children’s are primarily hospital employees. This distinction has made it difficult to fund and support nurse-led studies. 

“We’re trying to move away from the perception that physicians are leading research and nurses support it,” says Lee Ann Wallace, MBA, BSN, RN, NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Nationwide Children’s. “We want to promote that nurses can do research on nursing practice; there is a role for nurses in all of the different aspects where nurses work.” 

Since its creation in 2021, the Center for Nursing Excellence does exactly that. The center is now home to a growing team of nurse scientists who are not only conducting their own research but also mentoring bedside nurses in clinical inquiry and evidence-based practice.  

“We have the nursing strategic plan that supports implementing the process of helping nurses do their own research,” says Victoria Guinther, PhD, RN, FAAN, director of the Center for Nursing Excellence at Nationwide Children’s. “Most of the public doesn’t realize nursing is its own discipline, but the more nurse scientists we have brought on, the more awareness has grown and the more people are excited about it.” 

The Center for Nursing Excellence currently includes four nurse scientists:  

  • Laura Beth Kalvas, PhD, RN, whose research focuses on pediatric delirium and circadian rhythm interventions in the intensive care unit. 
  • Samantha Boch, PhD, RN, whose research focuses on children with incarcerated parents.  
  • Stephanie Hosley, DNP, APRN-CNP, a seasoned educator and practitioner.  
  • Gerene Bauldoff, PhD, RN, who supports staff-led projects and serves as an administrative principal investigator.  

Dr. Kalvas, who devotes half of her time to independent research, says the hospital-based model is uniquely empowering. “I’m embedded in the clinical environment, working directly with bedside nurses. That connection helps ensure our research is relevant and impactful.” 

Dr. Bauldoff agrees. “Nurses often come to us with clinical problems they’ve observed firsthand. We help them turn those observations into well-designed studies that can improve care.” 

Supporting Clinical Inquiry Across the Hospital 

Beyond independent research, or nurse scientist-initiated research, the Center for Nursing Excellence supports more than 40 active projects generated by staff nurses or other frontline clinical staff being led by nurse scientists. These range from evidence-based practice initiatives to full-scale research studies.  

“We provide everything from IRB support to data analysis,” says Dr. Bauldoff. “Our goal is to make research accessible, especially for nurses who may not have formal training in methodology.” 

Dr. Kalvas emphasizes that research doesn’t have to be intimidating. “We use the term ‘clinical inquiry’ to encompass everything from quality improvement to evidence-based practice. If you have a question about your care environment, we can help you explore it. Research starts with curiosity – and we’re here to help you follow it.” 

Of course, in addition to leading research, nurses are vital to the success of physician-led clinical research studies. In the section of neonatal medicine, clinical research is a cornerstone of care. With more than 20 active trials focused on improving outcomes for premature infants, nurses are essential to every step of the process. 

“There’s really been an evolution in clinical trials and clinical research. Nurses are the backbone of any clinical trial,” says Carl Backes, MD, neonatologist, cardiologist and principal investigator in the Center for Perinatal Research at Nationwide Children’s. “They’re the frontline providers that are, in most settings, reaching out to the families, making that initial contact, describing why these clinical research studies matter and how it can impact their family. Nationwide Children’s is leading the effort in promoting nurses, nurse practitioners and advanced practice nurses to be the principal investigators on study, given the tremendous value nurses add to the studies themselves.” 

Nurses can be found in all corners of the hospital leading and participating in clinical research. 

Changing Perceptions and Promoting Awareness of Nurse-Led Research 

Despite their growing involvement across many levels of clinical research, many nurses — and the public — remain unaware of the role nurses play in research. 

“We have our own practice and are doing our own science to support interventions, and we’re working to better showcase that,” says Dr. Guinther.

“While the role of nurse scientists is still gaining visibility within the hospital, it’s an exciting opportunity for continued education and awareness,” says Dr. Kalvas. 

According to Wallace, the long-term vision for nursing research at Nationwide Children’s includes a dedicated space within the hospital’s research building and continued recruitment of nurse scientists.  

“We want to forge our own path — one that reflects the unique strengths of our nursing team,” Wallace says. 

About the author

Senior Strategist, Research Communications | Website

Madison Storm is the Senior Strategist of Research Communications at Nationwide Children's Hospital. She earned her bachelor's in multimedia journalism from Virginia Tech in 2021 and went on to achieve her master's in health communication from Johns Hopkins University in 2023. Her passion for transforming the complex to clear is supported by various experiences writing for consumer audiences.

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