Children's Colorado is dedicated to reimagining and improving pediatric healthcare through our focus on research and innovation. Our Patient Care Services (PCS) research team has partnered with the University of Colorado College of Nursing to help support this mission. Through this joint venture, we work together to expand our collective knowledge about pediatric healthcare, advance the practice of nursing and achieve our goal of providing the best possible care for children.
Meet the PCS research team at Children's Colorado.
Areas of focus
- Provide leadership and mentorship in the development, coordination, and management of clinical research studies
- Lead evaluation activities that improve outcomes for patients
- Contribute to overall health sciences knowledge
Services provided
- Mentor projects for team members within the division of Patient Care Services
- Consult on project design; statistical methods and project dissemination
- Support research for team members within the division of Patient Care Services
- Provide education on topics around evidence-based practices (EBP), research, and library resources
- Assist in literature searches and systematic reviews
Current initiatives
- Nursing mentorship: Nurse scientists mentor nurses on research projects, data analysis or dissemination.
- Research Fellowship: The purpose of the research fellowship is to educate nurses on research principles and processes and to complete a nurse-driven research study. The research question will be chosen by the research fellow, in collaboration with a faculty nurse scientist who will act as a mentor for the fellowship and provide the necessary research education resources and supervision.
- Educational workshops on research, EBP, quality improvement (QI) and dissemination: The purpose of each research and EBP workshop is to provide knowledge and skills focused on research, EBP and QI. Each workshop will be facilitated by experts focused on EBP, program evaluation, QI or research.
- National Pediatric Nurse Scientist Collaborative (NPNSC): NPNSC hosts monthly conference calls and an annual conference designed specifically for pediatric nurse scientists. Through lectures and discussion, the goal of the meetings is for participants to enhance their knowledge of the nurse scientist role and to foster collaboration in pediatric research endeavors.
The Patient Care Services Research Fellowship Program
Through our partnership with the University of Colorado’s College of Nursing, we operate the state’s only hospital-based Patient Care Services Research Fellowship. This strong academic affiliation provides opportunities for our nurses to achieve their professional goals while contributing to their field.
This fellowship teaches basic research skills to highly motivated clinicians in allied health disciplines and uses internal mentorship to immerse participants in their research topics.
More about the program:
- The 18-month program includes both didactic and mentored time
- Fellows are expected to attempt to acquire funding as needed, obtain Colorado Multiple Institutional Review Board (COMIRB) approval, complete their study and present and publish their findings
- After graduation, Fellows continue to work with their mentors until they complete the program’s expectations.
What our nursing research means for kids
At Children's Colorado, our patient care services staff are champions for our patients. We’re committed to strengthening the research culture in nursing, advocating for strong educational opportunities and providing exceptional pediatric care.
We pursue these ambitious goals because they help us deliver the best care for children. Pediatric nursing research and innovation empower us to improve healthcare outcomes and enhance the hospital experience for patients, families and staff.
Contact us
For more information on conducting research at Children's Colorado sites or for more information on current programs, please contact us at NursingResearch@childrenscolorado.org.