Though slogans such as 'nursing must be a research-based profession' have been around for a long time, recent initiatives such as Nursing Development Units (NDUs), quality assurance and evidence-based practice have moved nursing to the forefront amongst health professions in taking seriously the promotion of rational care based on a critical appraisal of past practices and the evaluation of new ideas and techniques. This is the first book to examine research and development in clinical nursing practice. It explains how to do it and how to apply it.