TSNRP Research Interest Groups
“Let us never consider ourselves finished, nurses. We must be learning all of our lives.” -Florence Nightingale
The TriService Nursing Research Program (TSNRP) is honored to support six Research Interest Groups (RIGs) comprised of nurse scholars dedicated to military nursing research and the translation of new knowledge into military nursing practice. The RIGs consist of experts in six specialty areas: anesthesia, biobehavioral, expeditionary, military family, health systems and informatics, and military women’s health research. On September 1, 2021, TSNRP was proud to sponsor the COVID-19 supplement in Military Medicine, a collaboration of RIG members and authors from the 2020 Virtual Writing Workshop. As we move from 2021 to 2022, each group is expanding their access to RIG members -- meetings will be posted for interested participants to view and participate asynchronously.
RIG leaders developed 2022 annual plans while finishing goals from the 2021 Annual Plan. Here is an overview of 2021 efforts:
Anesthesia RIG (ARIG)
The Anesthesia RIG (ARIG) strives to act as a comprehensive source of support for researchers and clinicians seeking to answer anesthesia-related research questions and translating current evidence into practice. The ARIG welcomed new leadership with LTC Young Yauger AN, USA leading the ARIG team! The ARIG partnered with the Expeditionary RIG to conduct a research study exploring the feasibility of a multiple-use endotracheal tube (ETT) scenario. This study assessed the durability and disinfectant efficacy of ETT and the manuscript containing the results for this study is expected to be published in 2021.
Biobehavioral Health RIG (BHRIG)
The Biobehavioral Health RIG (BHRIG) plans to support behavioral health clinical inquiry in both generating the body of military behavioral health science and translating behavioral health evidence into practice. The BHRIG partnered with the Joint Trauma System (JTS) to develop a Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for forward management of acute behavioral health conditions. The BHRIG also plans to conduct a Likert Scale methodology project to provide expert guidance on appropriate use and development of Likert Scales. This project brings value to all nurses who frequently utilize Likert Scales in research and EBP projects. Plus, the BHRIG plans to offer a Likert Scale webinar for CE credit on the RIG website. The BHRIG also published the COVID-19 BioBehavioral Palliative Care Toolkit, a key resource that provides evidence-based (EBP) guidelines for palliative care of COVID-19 patients. This was presented by Lt Col Migliore at the 2021 Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice Dissemination Course.
Expeditionary RIG (ExRIG)
The Expeditionary RIG (ExRIG) strives to ensure expeditionary science and EBP practice initiatives remain operationally relevant and visible to military leaders and policymakers. The ExRIG collaborates with the ARIG to finish a research study exploring the durability, feasibility, and disinfectant efficacy of multiple ETT reuse in an austere environment. The ExRIG also collaborates with the Joint Trauma System (JTS) in updating the Prolonged Field Care (PFC) Clinical Practice Guideline. These updates will be included in the next edition of the Battlefield Guide, which is in the works for publication in 2022. The ExRIG works on the development of the nursing knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) blueprinting with the DHA Nursing Readiness Working Group and the JTS. ExRIG leaders will continue to recruit and mentor junior nurse corps officers with expeditionary experience or interest in the RIG.
Military Family RIG (FIG)
The Military Family RIG (FIG) aims to expand the foundation of knowledge upon which expert practices can be built to improve the health of the military family. The FIG collaborated with Blue Star Families on a publication for the TSNRP COVID-19 supplement published on September 1, 2021 in Military Medicine. The team is strategically planning a project to generate new knowledge within nursing and healthcare to improve the quality of life for military families. The FIG continues to collaborate with nurse scientists, civilian research teams, and academic affiliations as well as provide mentorship for research scientists and graduate students.
Health Systems and Informatics RIG (HSIRIG)
The Health Systems and Informatics RIG (HSIRIG) strives to strengthen informatics and health services knowledge sharing and standardization of efforts to enhance skills in research and EBP practice among military nurse scholars. The HSIRIG plans to develop a course on analyzing data for EBP practice projects as well as develop templates and training resources for data analysis to be available on the RIG website.
Military Women’s Health RIG (MWHRIG)
The Military Women’s Health RIG (MWHRIG) provides MWHRIG services and supports topics to improve military women’s health, address the unique needs of female service members, and influence healthcare policies affecting female service members. MWHRIG leaders collaborated to publish a supplement of the gaps and findings from the summit related to the leadership, operational, and physical health and well-being of Service women. The supplement was published on August 25, 2021, in Women’s Health Issues. The MWHRIG plans to continue the focus on military women’s health issues by hosting another Women in Combat Symposium in early 2023. In addition, MWHRIG collaborated with The Association of Military Surgeons of the United States (AMSUS) to develop a webinar speaker series focusing on military women’s health issues scheduled to launch October 15, 2021. The MWHRIG continues to collaborate with other military and civilian women’s health organizations including Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS), Office of Research in Women’s Health (ORWH), Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN), and the Uniformed Services University Consortium for Women’s Health to further nursing knowledge and improve quality of life for military women.