Research and the configuration of nursing services

• This paper is concerned with the way in which nursing research has influenced changes in the organization of nursing services, particularly the shift from so-called traditional nursing to new nursing. To this end published research and professional literature are selectively reviewed. • The case is made to support the view that change in nursing has been driven forward by the evangelical zeal of opinion leaders rather than evidence. • It is suggested that holistic care as embodied in new nursing is no longer affordable. Market pressures have precipitated a revisiting of the task basis of nursing. An effective anchor would have been a solid body of research evidence pointing up the value new nursing may have. Regrettably not enough research was done prior to the diffusion of new nursing. What was done was not always adequate, and what was adequate was not effectively deployed by nurse leaders. • Nursing is the largest workforce in the NHS and has attracted a great deal of policy interest. It is suggested that it will become increasingly important for nursing to be more strategic, and develop its own professionally driven research agenda. • The future of the nursing profession is uncertain. It is clear that evidence-based practice is centre stage, and there is a need for nursing to re-negotiate its professional boundaries and to develop intellectual partnerships in order to move the knowledge base of practice forward. © 1997 Blackwell Science Ltd.