A call for replication.
PURPOSE: To promote the use of replication as a means for strengthening knowledge for nursing practice. METHODS: Examination of two clinical examples of how replication could strengthen nursing practice. FINDINGS: The first example had no research evidence to support the practice and the other was based on the findings of a single medical study. Both led to nursing practices that were not effective or efficient, although not harmful. Replication can be used to overcome design limitations, increase validity of findings, and bring about correction of error. In addition, potential barriers and solutions to increase replication were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Replication is a critical step in validating research to build evidence and to promote use of findings in practice.