nursing issues

Discuss what you think research is and

• The significance of research to the practice of graduate nurses and

• The barriers/solutions to the use of research to inform nursing practice.

Research is multileveled. In a health care setting, research is used for a variety of reasons and for a range of purposes. Whether it be a nurse undertaking a patient history to determine the level of care required or collecting and analysing data for a pharmaceutical study. Research is extremely important in developing a nurse’s fundamental basis of knowledge to assist in future problem solving situations and to ensure sound judgements are made through their actions. Research, however, has barriers in nursing practice and this will be further explored in the essay accompanied by solutions.

There are a number of different definitions of research that have arisen, with the common theme being knowledge as the outcome. Research can be explained as ‘a rigorous process of systematic inquiry that seeks answers to questions about phenomena of concern to a profession or academic discipline’ (Daly, Elliot and Chang 2000) or suggested by Sykes (1997 in Roberts and Taylor 1998, page 1) ‘a careful search or enquiry, a course of

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The facilitator promotes and supports research based practice, representing a positive role model for nurses who wish to implement research based practice. For example, once nurses graduate, they read very little literature related to their work (Carter 1996).

Despite the increasing development of nursing research, nurses are still failing to implement new findings in their practice. Research is important for nurses to be able to keep up with changes in the delivery of health care; advances in technology, new diseases emerging from antibiotic resistant micro-organisms, demographics changed, increased demand on health care and a move towards evidence based practice. doc (accessed 20/3 11:30 am)

Royal College of Nursing, Australia: Nursing Research (1998). Sydney: Mosby, pages 74-81,

Electronic resources:

http://www. Many nurses are unable to obtain research reports and also find interpreting their value clinically, a difficult process.

The setting of a nurse’s environment does not lend itself to the use of research. It is essential that graduate nurses have an understanding of the research process which will enable them to practice with up to date competence. For example, a study by Hamilton-Smith (Carter 1996) proved that patients were being fasted pre-operatively for longer than needed. Continuing competence in nursing is also required, stated by the ANCI. Research in Nursing and Health, vol 18, pages 371-375. Reports can be too complex and statistical, making it difficult for nurses to grasp the key terms and ideas resulting in the loss of potentially valuable knowledge (McCaughn, D, Thompson, C, Sheldon, T & Thompson, D 2002).

Schneider Z, Elliott D, LoBiondo-Wood G & Haber J 2003.

Approximate Word count = 1661
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

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