This article promotes a structure for nursing research in which the pr
imary feature is the nurse researcher-as-clinician in a collaborative
relationship with the client-as-subject. Elements of a theoretical rat
ionale for blending the roles of clinician and researcher in an essent
ially qualitative methodology are developed. A nursing practice resear
ch method is conceptualized not as merely a technical activity with a
focus on narrative data, but also as an explicit recognition of resear
ch as practice with an emphasis on intersubjectivity and dialogue in t
he research process as constitutive of reality. Research and knowledge
development are thus envisioned as taking place from within the nursi
ng situation and contingent on the quality of the nurse-client relatio
nship. The nurse and client are recognized as the authors of the nursi
ng-research situation in which meanings of health experiences are expl
ored and chosen, and opportunities for enhanced quality of life are pr
esented to both. Nurse and client each lend a unique perspective in th
e shared nursing-research situation. Regardless of the facticities of
the client's medical status, both nurse and client have the potential
for positive growth and change when these unique perspectives of nurse
and client are joined. The proposed nursing practice research methodo
logy capitalizes on these features of the practice situation, and thus
, speaks directly to the concerns of the clinician.