Introduction:

An early integration of undergraduate students into activities of research can help them develop skills for a critical application of the corresponding findings. The formation of research assistants program is proposed as an experience for students to expose, experiment, and actively participate in diverse researching related activities.

Objective:

To identify the level of knowledge and degree of satisfaction of students after their participation in a research assistant formation program.

Method:

This is pre-post-test study involving 20 undergraduate nursing students. Their achieved knowledge and satisfaction in the three-module-180-hours program were assessed.

Results:

Unrelated to parallel experiences, the students’ knowledge increased significantly after the program. All students stated having felt very satisfied.

Discussion:

This article informs on a program of formation of research assistants which is prone to be extended to other contexts, however its duration could be adjusted.

Conclusion:

The participation of undergraduate students in a research assistant formation program is a novel strategy to engage students into nursing research.