Models and processes of research utilization.

The proliferation of research in nursing is greater today than at any other time in the history of nursing. In order for this research to be meaningful for practice, research utilization efforts are imperative. This article reviews three prominent research utilization models spanning three decades of development. Future challenges and suggestions for improving the process are identified. Through research utilization efforts, nurses are given the power to make informed choices regarding implementation of research-based assessments, diagnoses, interventions, and outcome measures that ultimately will result in improved patient outcomes.