Nursing research advances at Saint Luke's Hospital

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  — Nursing research at Saint Luke's Hospital has advanced to the next level of professionalism. Funded by a grant from benefactor Helen Nelson and the Saint Luke's Hospital Foundation, a new position has been developed to lead and expand clinical nursing research.

Jacque Carpenter, R.N., M.S., Ph.D., was recently appointed as the director of nursing research for Saint Luke's Hospital. She works closely with the Nursing Research Council to lead a comprehensive nursing research program that impacts clinical, educational and administrative nursing practice at Saint Luke's Hospital. Dr. Carpenter, who is also an associate professor at Saint Luke's College of Nursing, is the first director of nursing research.

“Less than 10 percent of hospitals across the country have such an advanced position for nursing research and to have been awarded a grant to bring Dr. Carpenter on board is a wonderful opportunity to enhance nursing care at Saint Luke's Hospital,” said Debbie White, chief nursing officer for Saint Luke's Health System.

Dr. Carpenter received her Ph.D. in nursing from the University of Kansas Medical Center where she served on the nursing faculty before coming to Saint Luke's.

In her role, Dr. Carpenter facilitates nursing research projects, helping to find mentors to guide nurses through the research process and providing support for ongoing research and research education. According to Dr. Carpenter, a large part of her job is motivating nurses to become interested in conducting clinical research and investigating care processes and outcomes. She encourages nurses to be inquisitive about their practice and to search for the evidence. Also, as part of her role, Dr. Carpenter assists nursing research teams with preparing manuscripts and developing presentations of their research for regional and national conferences.

As a Magnet hospital, Saint Luke's places a strong emphasis on nursing research and evidence-based practice. The Magnet Designation Program was developed by the American Nurses Credentialing Center to recognize health care organizations that provide nursing excellence. The hospital, which achieved Magnet designation for a second time in 2009, is committed to enhancing nursing practice and improving patient care.

Saint Luke's Hospital is a member of Saint Luke's Health System, which consists of 11 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices, and provides a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services. Founded as a faith-based, not-for-profit organization, our mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education. The health system is an aligned organization in which the physicians and hospitals assume responsibility for enhancing the physical, mental, and spiritual health of people in the metropolitan Kansas City area and the surrounding region.