Nurses Lead the Way: A Decade of Research and Change at KPNCAL

The first paragraph shifts the focus to the big picture: KPNCAL has long aimed to make nursing better by training its staff and blending caring science with a holistic view of health. Yet, nurse research had been slower than doctors’, lacking structure and few leaders. In 2019 the organization answered this gap by launching a program to boost evidence‑based practice (EBP) and research. Two years later, the Research & Innovation Academy (RIA) was created under the Scholars Academy to weave these efforts into every hospital. RIAs plan is simple: set up a single system that covers 21 medical centers, bring together local and national councils on EBP and research, design new courses, and pair mentors with mentees. It also builds academic ties that give nurses the chance to study real problems and share their findings.A key part of RIA is community building. Over 300 PhD and DNP nurses now meet through monthly office hours, grand rounds, and regional conferences. The academy works closely with the Institutional Review Board, research offices, and libraries to make it easier for nurses to conduct studies and get their work published. With a workforce of more than 28, 000 nurses, these initiatives have pushed many to join quality improvement projects and research studies. The result is a culture where every medical center thinks about how to use evidence and new ideas to improve patient care. Looking ahead, RIA plans large, multi‑site studies and is ready to bring in big data and artificial intelligence. These tools will help nurses ask bigger questions and find smarter solutions. By making research and EBP a core part of everyday practice, RIA keeps KPNCAL moving forward. The organization is now better positioned to innovate, support professional growth for nurses, and deliver outcomes that matter most to patients.