Highlights
- •IRB requirements for Principal Investigator (PI) status vary substantially.
- •This variability creates barriers to pediatric nurse scientists serving as PIs.
- •New knowledge in pediatric nursing is critical to achieving health equity.
- •Recognition of pediatric nurse scientists as PIs for research studies is needed.
Abstract
Purpose
To describe existing guidance for qualifications of principal investigator s (PI s)
of human subjects research and explore how they are operationalized for pediatric
nurse scientists and clinical nurses in children's hospitals.
Design and methods
After reviewing federal regulations, accreditation guidelines, and the literature,
a convenience sample of members of the National Pediatric Nurse Scientist Collaborative
(NPNSC). Participants completed a 33-item survey that included questions about Institutional
Review Board (IRB), guidelines, and policies for PI status at their affiliated children's
hospitals.
Results
The survey was electronically disseminated to 179 members of NPNSC through the Collaborative's
listserv. Of the 39 members who responded, 90% hold a PhD and 80% practice in a free-standing
children's hospital, nearly all of which (93%) are recognized as Magnet® hospitals.
While the majority of respondents indicated that nurse scientists and other nurses
were allowed to be PIs of research studies, educational requirements for PI status
varied, with 3% requiring a PhD, 15% a baccalaureate degree, and 10% a graduate degree.
54% of respondents reported there was no degree requirement for PI status; however15%
reported that even doctorally prepared nurse scientists cannot serve as PIs of research
studies at their affiliated children’'s hospitals.
Conclusions
The survey identified substantial variability in requirements for PI status and potential
barriers to pediatric nurses conducting independent research as PIs at children's
hospitals.
Practice implications
Operationalizing existing guidance will expand inclusion of nurse scientist expertise
in human subjects research.
Keywords
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References
American Nurses Credentialing Center. (2021). Program Tools. 2023 Magnet Application Manual. https://www.nursingworld.org/organizational-programs/magnet/program-tools/.
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Association for the Accreditation of Human Research Protection Programs, Inc. (2022, February 17). Tip Sheets. https://www.aahrpp.org/resources/resource-library/tipsheets.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 31, 2022
Accepted:
August 10,
2022
Received in revised form:
August 8,
2022
Received:
February 26,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
