Happy National Nurses Week!
Celebrating voices in nursing science
At Blaisdell Medical Library, we strive to support nurses at UC Davis Health with access to current clinical resources. UC Davis Health holds “Magnet” status, the nation’s highest form of recognition for nursing excellence. The UC Davis Health Center for Nursing Science facilitates and mentors nurses and clinicians in various forms of clinical inquiry, including evidence-based practice, evidence implementation, research and innovation.
In celebration of National Nurses Week (May 6-12), we are proud to raise awareness of nursing science and share the voices of three UC Davis Health professionals in this field: Lori Kennedy, director of the Center for Nursing Science and clinical nurse scientist; Sarina Fazio, clinical nurse scientist; and Sherry Allen, evidence-based practice specialist.
Interview with UC Davis Health Nursing Science Professionals
Lori Kennedy, Ph.D., R.N., ACNP-BC, FAAN
Center for Nursing Science Director, Clinical Nurse Scientist
Sarina Fazio, Ph.D., R.N.
Clinical Nurse Scientist
Sherry Allen, D.N.P., R.N., CCRN, TCRN
Evidence-based Practice Specialist
What does a nurse scientist do?
A nurse scientist generates new knowledge, designs studies and translates findings into practice to improve health and healthcare. Depending on training and role, this work spans original research, evidence-based practice, implementation science, education and health systems operations.
Ph.D.-prepared nurses are trained to lead original research, develop theory and build the scientific foundation of nursing and healthcare. D.N.P.-prepared nurses typically focus on translating evidence into practice by implementing and evaluating interventions that improve care delivery and outcomes. In real-world settings, these roles overlap considerably and vary by institution, specialty and individual preparation.
At the UC Davis Health Center for Nursing Science, our team includes two Ph.D.-prepared nurse scientists and one D.N.P.-prepared evidence-based practice specialist. Together, we collaborate to support clinical inquiry, research, EBP projects, dissemination and innovation. This work directly informs nursing practice across the health system and helps ensure that care is grounded in the best available evidence.
Why did you pursue doctoral training as a nurse?
Each of us came to doctoral training via a different path, but a shared thread is consistent: curiosity about issues that emerge at the bedside and a desire to do something about them. For some of us, that spark came early in practice, participating in care of patients in clinical trials and realizing that nurses could be the ones generating that science. For others, it came from years of refining practice and recognizing the need for a stronger evidence base, or from a passion for translating evidence into the everyday workflows where it changes patient care.
What we have in common is the conviction that nursing practice deserves rigorous inquiry, and that we wanted to be part of building it. Doctoral training gave each of us the tools to ask better questions, design sound studies and implementation projects, and contribute to the science that shapes how nursing is practiced. It also connected us to a broader community of nurse scientists, leaders and mentors whose work continues to inspire ours.
What do you wish people knew about nursing scientists/your job?
Many people are surprised to learn that nurses conduct research and lead scientific inquiry. This is well understood within the health professions, but it is not always recognized outside of healthcare that nurses are trained in rigorous research and evidence synthesis methods, and that we generate, evaluate and translate evidence to improve care.
An important distinction is that nurse scientists practice in different settings. Clinically based nurse scientists are often embedded within medical centers and healthcare systems, working alongside bedside nurses, interprofessional teams, and operational leaders. Our focus tends to be on evidence-based practice, implementation science, quality improvement, and clinically relevant research that can be rapidly translated into patient care. Nurse scientists in academic settings are typically based in universities and focus on theory development, original research, grant-funded studies and education.
Both pathways are essential, and increasingly the boundary between them is becoming more permeable as health systems invest in nursing science capacity. Doctorally prepared nurses also rarely work alone. Our success depends on collaboration with clinicians, interprofessional partners, mentors and content experts, including medical librarians who make rigorous evidence work possible.
What library resources could you not live without?
The librarians at UC Davis’ Blaisdell Medical Library are a resource we could not do this work without. They are integral members of our nursing science team and trusted collaborators across both clinical and academic work. The resources and partnerships we rely on most include:
- Comprehensive literature searches and evidence reviews
- Methodological guidance for systematic, scoping and integrative reviews
- Evidence synthesis and critical appraisal
- Citation management and reference standards
- Teaching and consultations for nurses at all levels
- Guidance through publishing and dissemination
- Research collaborations exploring emerging AI‑enhanced search and discovery tools
The close partnership between the Center for Nursing Science and the librarians strengthens the quality and impact of nursing scholarship across UC Davis Health. Their expertise supports inquiry from initial question to dissemination and makes high-quality nursing science possible.
To learn more about nursing science at UC Davis Health, please visit the Center for Nursing Science website or send an email to nursescience@health.ucdavis.edu.