Making the most of research opportunities for nursing.

The Department of Health (2005) consultation document Best Research for Best Health: A New National Health Service Research Strategy offers both opportunities for the future development of nursing research and threats to its future. Lessons from the history of health research reforms in the UK suggest that it will take time for any benefits to become obvious and that only some members of the research community will receive funding. In the past few years the quality, potential leadership and skills base for nursing research have shown unprecedented improvements. Combined with a professional understanding of nurses' careers in both practice and education, the proposed new strategy could work to the advantage of nurses and the patients who rely on their expertise. It is, however, essential that the experience and ambitions of as many nurses as possible now feed into this consultation process.