RCN Research and Innovation resources

• The RCN is committed to nurses, midwives, HCAs and APs using knowledge and innovation to transform patient care. This section includes information and resources for those looking to use or develop research to enhance their practice, including links to research funding and training opportunities.
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RCN: Previous RCN research conferences

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EQUATOR (Enhancing the QUAlity and Transparency Of health Research) Network

• Reporting guidance for health research: this contains a comprehensive searchable database of reporting guidelines and also links to other resources relevant to research reporting.
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Health Research Agency (HRA)

• The HRA was established in December 2011 to protect and promote the interests of patients and the public in health research, and to streamline the regulation of research. It also covers current health guidance on research ethics and informed consent.
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PROSPERO

• An international systematic review registry that aims to promote transparency and open science, reduce reporting bias and help prevent unintended duplication and research waste.
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World Health Organization (2017) Facilitating evidence-based practice in nursing and midwifery in the WHO European Region. Copenhagen: WHO.

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Northway R, Howarth J and Evans L (2015) Participatory research, people with intellectual disabilities and ethical approval: making reasonable adjustments to enable participation, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 24 (3-4), pp. 573-581.

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O'Cathain A, Croot L, Duncan E, Rousseau N, Sworn K, Yardley L, and Hoddinott P (2019) Guidance on how to develop complex interventions to improve health and healthcare, BMJ Open, 9(8) pp. 1-9.

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We would like to thank the RCN Research member community for their input into the development of this subject guide.

Aveyard H (2023) Doing a literature review in health and social care: a practical guide. 5th edn. London: Open University Press.

• Access through RCN library

Booth A, Sutton A, Clowes M and Martyn-St James M (2022) Systematic approaches to a successful literature review. 3rd edn. Los Angeles: SAGE.

• Access through RCN library

Boswell C and Cannon S (2023) Introduction to nursing research: incorporating evidence-based practice. 6th edn. Burlington: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• Access through RCN library

Bowling A (2023) Research methods in health: investigating health and health services. 5th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.

• Access through RCN library

Ellis P (2022) Understanding research for nursing students. 5th edn. London: Learning Matters.

• Borrow from RCN Library services

Greenhalgh T and Dijkstra P (2025) How to read a paper: the basics of evidence based healthcare. 7th edn. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

• Access through RCN Library

Grove S and Cipher D (2020) Statistics for nursing research: a workbook for evidence-based practice. 3rd edn. St Louis, Missouri: Elsevier.

• Access through RCN Library

Holland K and Watson R (2021) Writing for publication in nursing and healthcare: getting it right. 2nd edn. Chichester: John Wiley and Sons.

• Access through RCN library

Holloway I and Galvin K (2024) Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. 5th edn. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.

• Access through RCN library

Johnstone M J (2024) Effective writing for healthcare professionals : a pocket guide to getting published. 2nd edn. Abingdon: Routledge.

• Access through RCN library

Polit D F and Beck C T (2021) Nursing research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 11th edn. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer.

• Access through RCN library

Salkind N (2020) Statistics for people who (think they) hate statistics. 7th edn. Los Angeles: Sage. 

• Access through RCN Library

Schneider Z M and Fuller J (2018) Writing research proposals in the health sciences: a step-by-step guide. London: SAGE Publications.

• Access through RCN Library

Use these links to see details of books the RCN libraries hold on each topic.

• Critical appraisal
• Evidence-based practice
• Research methods
• Statistics

Use these links to see details of journal articles on each topic.

• Critical appraisal tools
• Evidence based practice
• Practice development
• Qualitative research (research methods)
• Quantitative research (research methods)

Journals of interest for the novice researchers. Use these links to see details of availability.

• Journal of Research in Nursing
• Nurse Researcher
• Nursing Open