Firearm Injury Prevention Research in Nursing Scholars Program - The extensive impact of firearm injury and death in the United States, involving profound human consequences and economic costs, underscores the need for a comprehensive, evidence-based approach including research and implementation of effective solutions. Historical limitations on funding for firearm-related research contributed to a shortage of qualified investigators, including those from nursing backgrounds, and investment in the next generation of firearm injury scientists is critical. Nurse scientists, with their unique perspective rooted in patient care and a variety of practice settings, play a crucial role in injury and violence research, firearm injury prevention, and overall health outcomes. The University of Colorado is uniquely poised to train these firearm injury prevention scientists from nursing and aligned fields: it boasts resources including a world-class College of Nursing, Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative, and Injury & Violence Prevention Center, as well as a national reputation for expertise and a broad network of partners. Our overarching goal is to address the critical need for a skilled and interdisciplinary workforce capable of researching, implementing, and disseminating evidence-based, innovative strategies to mitigate the impact of firearm-related harms. The Firearm Injury Prevention Research in Nursing (FIPRN) Scholars Program will recruit 8 Scholars on an annual basis for a 12-week program consisting of in-person components, virtual learning, and longitudinal research and career mentorship. Didactic components will provide exposure to key content in firearm injury epidemiology, the evidence base for prevention and intervention approaches, emerging topics, qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods, issues of ethics, innovative methodological approaches, and designing for dissemination. The FIPRN program, grounded in theory but designed for real-world impact, seeks: (1) to provide training in state-of-the-art concepts in firearm injury prevention across settings, populations, and prevention approaches; (2) to provide training in rigorous research methodologies from varied disciplines, attuned to translation into practical solutions; (3) to advance nursing science by developing a workforce of prevention scientists in nursing research who are trained in community-engaged research and bring a range of perspectives, innovative approaches, and non-academic partnerships; and (4) to promote collaborative team-science through active development of interprofessional networks for peer- and senior-mentoring, design and conduct of research, and dissemination of findings. In doing this, we will nurture a group of scientists ready to tackle the complex challenges presented by firearm injury and death prevention and intervention.
