Critical care nurses are interested in participating in research but more needs to be done to prepare them: a systematic review

Background Clinical research is vital in critical care settings to support evidence-based care for critically ill patients. However, critical care nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with research remain underexplored. Given that nurses' attitudes may influence the quality and rigour of research, understanding these perspectives is essential. Aim To review the literature describing critical care nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with clinical research conducted in critical care units. Design This is a narrative systematic review. Methods This mixed-methods systematic review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Seven databases were searched. Studies were restricted to full text in English between January 2000 and March 2025. Methodological quality was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool version 2018. Results were synthesised narratively. Results Of 1038 records, 11 studies met inclusion criteria, covering 31 adult ICUs ( n = 1075) and 19 paediatric/neonatal ICUs ( n = 1428). Methodological quality varied; only three studies met all criteria, with common limitations in measurement tools and sample representativeness. Five key themes emerged: (1) positive attitudes to research, (2) inconsistent research involvement, (3) variable research education and capability, (4) insufficient research communication and dissemination, and (5) barriers and facilitators to research engagement. Conclusions Critical care nurses valued clinical research, but engagement was limited by workload, research education, communication challenges, and institutional constraints. While many critical care nurses cared for patients enrolled in trials, fewer were involved in study design or dissemination.