What is it about?
Nursing depends on research and evidence to improve care, but it can take many years for new knowledge to become embedded in everyday practice. This editorial argues that writing for publication is not only for academics and researchers. Nurses working in clinical, leadership, education and policy roles all have valuable insights to share. By writing about innovations, service improvements, reflections and evidence-based practice, nurses can help bridge the gap between research and real-world care, ensuring that knowledge is shared more effectively across the profession.
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Why is it important?
Research only improves patient care when it is understood, shared and applied in practice. The editorial highlights concerns that there can be a considerable delay between the generation of new evidence and its implementation in healthcare settings. Nurses are uniquely positioned to help overcome this challenge because they understand the realities of care delivery and the practical issues involved in translating evidence into practice. Encouraging more nurses to write for publication can help spread innovation, share learning and strengthen evidence-based nursing.
Perspectives
Publishing should not be viewed as the exclusive domain of experienced researchers or senior academics. Every nurse has experiences, insights and examples of practice that may benefit others. Writing can help make nursing knowledge more accessible, support professional development and contribute to improvements in patient care. This editorial calls for a broader culture of publication within nursing, where practitioners are supported to share their knowledge and contribute to the ongoing development of the profession. By giving more nurses a voice in the literature, the gap between theory and practice can be narrowed and evidence-informed care strengthened.
Prof Michael J Tatterton
University of Bradford
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Writing for publication helps reduce the theory–practice gap and all nurses have a role to play, Evidence-Based Nursing, July 2026, BMJ,
DOI: 10.1136/ebnurs-2026-104744.
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