The new knowledge generated over lime by clinical research nursing will ultimately lead to a rcconccptualizcd nursing practice. This article uses a controlled system model to examine how research in clinical settings may become institutionalized, which would move nursing closer to the goal of a reconceptualizcd practice. A model such as the one constructed lor this discussion may prove of general use to nurse researchers in that they can deduce propositions the model lor testing, and thereby develop new knowledge.