Abstract
PURPOSE: This study aims to explore nursing experts’ experiences of participating in research outpatient clinic, and their perceived challenges and support needs. DESIGN: A qualitative phenomenological descriptive study was carried out. METHODS: A purposive sampling method was employed to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with 23 nursing experts engaged in nurse-led research outpatient clinics from May to June 2025. Thematic analysis guided by Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis method was adopted for data analysis. We followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ) checklist to report the study. RESULTS: Three themes were extracted: Motivation for participation in research outpatient clinics; Challenges for participation in research outpatient clinics; Perceived support needs. These themes collectively reflect nursing experts’ experiences, highlighting the factors that motivate their engagement, the obstacles they encounter, and the support they consider necessary for effective participation in research outpatient clinics. CONCLUSION: Under the nurse-led model, nursing experts’ experiences in research outpatient clinics reflect professional responsibility and personal development, while also confronting multiple practical challenges. Future research should focus on developing and evaluating targeted strategies to address the practical challenges identified by nursing experts and on optimizing support mechanisms within research outpatient settings. PATIENT AND PUBLIC CONTRIBUTIONS: We thank all participants for their valuable input throughout the study.