Using collaborative research to facilitate student learning

Developing research partnerships between academia and the service sector is an innovative way to meet the demand for high-quality, cost-effective, and clinically oriented research. Undergraduate student participation in clini cal research is an educational strategy to facilitate positive mindsets tow ard research. This article outlines the methodological steps in recruiting and training undergraduate students for clinical research reams to benefit nurse educators, nurse researchers, students, and institutional partners. S tudent volunteers collected data for a study examining patient satisfaction with pain management practices. The research proposal was used to demonstr ate principles of the research process and to familiarize the students with the study. A detailed study protocol guided the entire team through the pr oject Student sensitivity to pain assessment and management was enhanced. L earning the research process and the students' appreciation for the rigors of research were reinforced using this experiential model. Student evaluati on of the research experience is presented.