Summary•This review is based on findings from a postal survey undertaken between March and September 1993 to elicit information from nurses in four district health authorities regarding development and research activity in which they were involved.•The objectives of the review were to obtain baseline information on the extent, variety and scope of work being carried out, to provide staff with a mechanism for networking good practice and to identify any areas of replication.•A snowball sampling technique was used to obtain information from nursing personnel. A total of 141 responses were received out of which 4% (n= 5) reported no activity. Response rates varied between organizations and specialist groups but were similar in terms of the number of small‐scale clinical practice developments undertaken without identified support or supervision.•Fifty‐five per cent (n= 75) of the reported developments related to the organization and management of services while 11% (n= 15) focused on consumer‐related issues. Few studies identified dissemination strategies and there was generally a lack of clarity over expected benefits of the study in terms of measurable outcomes to the organization, nursing staff or patients. Funding for clinical practice development and research in nursing was found to be very sparse; the reasons for this were not identified.•Overall the review confirmed statements from other sources (DoH, 1993a,b) that nursing development and research tends to be small scale and unsupported with nursing staff trying hard to implement research findings or be innovative in their practice without the necessary expertise and support. Such findings have implications for the current drive to implement researc