Charting future directions in nursing research: NINR's Innovative Questions Initiative.

For many Americans, the extraordinary discoveries in the health sciences of the past several decades have extended the lifespan and turned what were once acute terminal illnesses into manageable long-term conditions. Given these developments, it is critical that improving the quality of life for those with chronic illness remains a primary focus of health research. Individuals, regardless of their condition or age, should be able to experience a high quality of life minimally burdened by adverse symptoms, with the ability to successfully manage their own healthcare regimen. Perhaps more importantly, individuals, families, clinicians, and communities should be equipped with evidence-based strategies for maintaining wellness and preventing illness from occurring in the first place. The science supported by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) plays a major role in addressing these health challenges by building the scientific foundation for clinical practice, and by engaging the scientific community and the public in shaping the future of nursing science through initiatives, such as the recently launched NINR Innovative Questions (IQ) Initiative (http://www.ninr.nih.gov/ aboutninr/ninr-mission-and-strategic-plan/iqinitiative). The mission of NINR is to support research to promote and improve the health of individuals, families, and communities. In developing a research agenda for nursing science, NINR is guided by its strategic plan, Bringing Science to Life (https://www.ninr.nih.gov/sites/www.ninr. nih.gov/files/ninr-strategic-plan-2011.pdf). Based on this strategic plan, past scientific accomplishments, and research gaps, NINR has identified the following themes (http://www.ninr.nih.gov/aboutninr/keythemes):