Background Research is one of the four pillars of nursing, with a research-positive culture in healthcare organisations being associated with higher-quality care. However, challenges in recruiting nurses to participate in research studies have been identified.

Aim This article describes the strategies used to recruit nurses to a convergent mixed methods study. The study (Think Quit) explored the barriers and facilitators to discussing and making referrals to smoking cessation with patients in hospital settings. We discuss persisting recruitment challenges and provide recommendations for recruiting nurses to future research.

Discussion This article considers the advantages and disadvantages of a range of recruitment strategies, encompassing digital (intranet, email), in-person (ward visits, recruitment stalls, word-of-mouth, research champions) and visual (posters) methods. Challenges to nurse recruitment in a smoking cessation study included time, opportunity and motivation.

Conclusion Collective action from nursing staff, leaders and health policymakers is needed to establish how to overcome recruitment challenges and increase opportunities to involve and engage nurses in research.

Implications for practice Addressing barriers to nurse participation in research is fundamental to the delivery of high-quality research and evidence-based practice, and the further integration of research as a pillar of nursing practice.