The Rise of Nurse Scientists in US Hospitals: Opportunities, Impact, and the Future for International Nurses

In the evolving landscape of healthcare in the United States, nurse scientists also known as nurse researchers are increasingly making waves. Once a rare presence outside academia, this highly specialized role is gaining traction in leading hospitals nationwide, offering new career opportunities not just for US-trained nurses but also for international nurses seeking to advance their research careers in America.

What is a Nurse Scientist?

A nurse scientist is a registered nurse who has earned a PhD or equivalent doctoral degree and is trained to lead independent nursing research. Their work often goes beyond traditional academic research to include solving operational challenges, improving patient care, and advancing evidence-based practice within hospitals.

Important distinction:

• Nurse scientists → Lead their own research studies, publish findings, and often secure grant funding.
• Research nurses → Assist in clinical trials and research activities but typically do not design or lead independent studies.

Why Hospitals are Hiring Nurse Scientists

In recent years, more US Magnet-designated hospitals recognized for nursing excellence have been embedding nurse scientists directly into their clinical settings. This shift stems from the need to integrate research into day-to-day nursing practice, improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, and enhance nursing workforce retention.

As Bevin Cohen, PhD, RN of Mount Sinai Health System explains:

“If you want to improve any outcome patient satisfaction, cost, quality we’re the ones who can help you design the studies to determine what works.”

The ripple effect? Hospitals benefit from:

• Higher Magnet status scores
• Mentorship for frontline nurses
• Collaboration on grant writing and protocol design
• Bridging the gap between bedside care and evidence-based innovation

According to Cheryl Jones, MSN, RN, NEA-BC of MUSC Health, nurse scientists are invaluable because:

“When pain points are raised, nurse scientists are the go-to people to turn those into problem statements and solutions.”

How US Hospitals are Using Nurse Scientists

From coast to coast, top US hospital systems many of which actively hire internationally educated nurses are expanding nurse scientist programs. Here’s how some are doing it:

Brown University Health (Rhode Island)

• Focuses on professional governance, mentorship, and guiding residency program nurses through research projects.
• Transitioning from a decentralized model to a centralized research support structure, making resources accessible across all facilities, including community hospitals, pediatric centers, and behavioral health units.

BJC HealthCare (Missouri)

• Employs nine nurse scientists and six nursing research faculty.
• Credited with innovations like reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections by identifying flaws in bladder volume measurement tools and updating hospital scanners.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP, Pennsylvania)

• Houses a dedicated Center for Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice employing seven nurse scientists.
• Runs monthly knowledge-sharing sessions for PhD-prepared nurses to improve collaboration and accelerate innovation.

City of Hope (California)

• Home to one of the few dedicated nursing research divisions within a cancer center in the US.
• Nurse scientists lead both rapid evidence-based improvements and long-term, nationally influential research projects.

Cone Health (North Carolina)

• Employs one nurse scientist who is building a nurse research infrastructure from the ground up.
• Prioritizes breaking down barriers for nurses pursuing research even for staff with heavy clinical workloads.

Duke University Health System (North Carolina)

• Historically operated with one nurse scientist supporting over 100 projects annually, but now recruiting three more to hold joint hospital–university appointments.

Mayo Clinic (Minnesota, Arizona, Florida)

• Eight nurse scientists focus on symptom science, self-management, and caregiving research with projects like non-drug interventions for chemotherapy side effects.

Mount Sinai Health System (New York)

• Houses a Center for Nursing Research and Innovation with specialties in maternal-child health equality and workforce retention.
• Runs national nurse research training programs and a peer-reviewed journal.

MUSC Health (South Carolina)

• Grew from hiring its first nurse scientist in 2016 to expanding research capacity in 2023.
• Recently organized a nurse hackathon that directly reduced hospital-acquired pressure injuries.

NewYork-Presbyterian (New York)

• Operates with five nurse scientists across 11 campuses, producing over 17 co-authored manuscripts with frontline nurses.
• Translated research into practice quickly for example, by adopting a nurse-led pediatric MRI prep video as standard care.

NYU Langone Health (New York)

• Offers a Nursing Science Fellowship for non-PhD nurses interested in research.
• Studied a “forever heart” hospice program ultimately making it standard practice because of its positive impact on families and staff.

Opportunities for International Nurses in Nurse Scientist Roles

With healthcare systems in the US leaning heavily into *research-driven practice improvement, the demand for nurse scientists is only growing. While most positions require a PhD in nursing or a related field, many health systems especially academic medical centers welcome internationally trained nurses who meet US licensure and visa requirements.

Benefits for international nurses joining US hospital research teams include:

• Access to cutting-edge medical research environments
• Mentorship from leaders in nursing science & innovation
• Opportunities to influence patient care on a system and national level
• Potential to secure funding for independent research studies

The Takeaway

Nurse scientists are transforming US healthcare not only by generating evidence to improve care quality but also by mentoring the next generation of nurses and helping hospitals remain at the forefront of patient outcomes.

For international nurses with a passion for research, this field offers a career path where your expertise can shape the future of healthcare in America.

Pro Tip: If you are an internationally educated nurse looking for nurse scientist jobs in the US, connect with NurseContact your trusted platform for matching international talent with leading US healthcare employers.