Nursing Research as the Basis of Nursing

Importance of Nursing Research Nurses ask questions aimed at gaining new knowledge to improve pt. care Nurses ask questions aimed at gaining new knowledge to improve pt. care Research-based (evidence based) practice = integrating research findings into clinical decision making Research-based (evidence based) practice = integrating research findings into clinical decision making

Gaining knowledge in nursing Tradition: Tradition: “It’s always been done this way” “It’s always been done this way” Information seeking: Information seeking: “Let’s see what the experts have to say” “Let’s see what the experts have to say” Experience: Experience: “I found that this works best…” “I found that this works best…” Problem solving/trial & error: Problem solving/trial & error: “If this doesn’t work, let’s try it this way…” “If this doesn’t work, let’s try it this way…” Research… Research…

What Is Research? It means: “to search again” It involves: Diligent and systematic inquiry Diligent and systematic inquiry Planning & organization Planning & organization Persistence Persistence Discovery Discovery New knowledge about topics New knowledge about topics Learning about new areas of study Learning about new areas of study

Why Is Research Important? Develop an evidence-based practice for nursing that promotes improved outcomes for: Develop an evidence-based practice for nursing that promotes improved outcomes for: Patients and families Patients and families Nurses Nurses Health care system Health care system

Definition of Nursing Research A scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice. A scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice. Nursing research is essential for developing and refining knowledge that can be used to improve clinical practice Nursing research is essential for developing and refining knowledge that can be used to improve clinical practice

Ultimate goal of nursing: Providing evidence-based care that promotes quality outcomes for patients, families, health care providers, and the health care system Providing evidence-based care that promotes quality outcomes for patients, families, health care providers, and the health care system Ultimate goal of nursing research: Generation of an empirical knowledge base to guide nursing practice Generation of an empirical knowledge base to guide nursing practice

Relationships Between Theory, Practice & Research Theory PracticeResearch Nursing

Through nursing research, scientific knowledge can be developed to improve nursing care, patient outcomes, and the health care delivery system

Research Participation at Various Levels of Educational Preparation

Research Design Hypotheses Theoretical Framework Research Design Review of Literature Research ?s

Types of nursing research Quantitative research: uses numbers, precise measurement Quantitative research: uses numbers, precise measurement Examples: rates of wound healing, control of BP or blood sugar Examples: rates of wound healing, control of BP or blood sugar Qualitative research: explores feelings, experiences, cultures, philosophies Qualitative research: explores feelings, experiences, cultures, philosophies Examples: what does it feel like to have cancer? How do nurses define patient satisfaction? Examples: what does it feel like to have cancer? How do nurses define patient satisfaction?

Descriptive research Exploring and describing phenomena in real-life situations Exploring and describing phenomena in real-life situations Provides accurate data about the people or phenomena being studied Provides accurate data about the people or phenomena being studied Researchers: Researchers: discover new meaning discover new meaning describe what exists describe what exists determine the frequency with which something occurs determine the frequency with which something occurs categorize information categorize information

Experimental research Used to test the effectiveness of nursing interventions Used to test the effectiveness of nursing interventions Main goal: figure out cause and effect! Main goal: figure out cause and effect! Researcher looks to compare outcomes of patients who receive a new nursing treatment as compared to patients who received the traditional treatment Researcher looks to compare outcomes of patients who receive a new nursing treatment as compared to patients who received the traditional treatment

Experimental research Patients are randomly assigned to the group that receives the new treatment or the group that receives the traditional treatment Patients are randomly assigned to the group that receives the new treatment or the group that receives the traditional treatment Researchers conduct careful measurements to see which treatment is most effective Researchers conduct careful measurements to see which treatment is most effective Researchers conduct experimental research very carefully to make sure that the results are accurate and true Researchers conduct experimental research very carefully to make sure that the results are accurate and true

Historical research Examines events of the past Examines events of the past Philosophy: One can learn from the past, and the search for wisdom in which the historian examines what has been, what is, and what ought to be Philosophy: One can learn from the past, and the search for wisdom in which the historian examines what has been, what is, and what ought to be Examples: Examples: The early years of nursing in Ireland The early years of nursing in Ireland Determining the worth of nurses’ work: nursing salaries from Determining the worth of nurses’ work: nursing salaries from Women giving nursing care during the Civil War Women giving nursing care during the Civil War

BSN role in nursing research Identify research problems in own clinical practice Identify research problems in own clinical practice Assist with data collection for established studies Assist with data collection for established studies Critique research studies for use in own clinical practice Critique research studies for use in own clinical practice Use research findings in clinical practice Use research findings in clinical practice

Evidence-based practice Use of research findings to: Use of research findings to: Promote the understanding of patients’ and families’ experience of health and illness Promote the understanding of patients’ and families’ experience of health and illness Implement effective nursing interventions to promote optimal patient health Implement effective nursing interventions to promote optimal patient health Provide quality, cost-effective care within the health care system Provide quality, cost-effective care within the health care system

Model of Professional Nursing Practice Regulation

Steps of nursing research 1. Identify the problem Goal of the study Goal of the study Guides the development of the research objectives and questions Guides the development of the research objectives and questions Area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for nursing practice Area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for nursing practice Research is needed to generate knowledge to address the problem  ultimate goal is evidence-based nursing care Research is needed to generate knowledge to address the problem  ultimate goal is evidence-based nursing care

Steps of nursing research 2. Pick the study design Blueprint for the study Blueprint for the study Maximizes control over factors that interfere with the study Maximizes control over factors that interfere with the study Is tailored to the individual study Is tailored to the individual study Precision and care within the study design increase the odds that the study findings will be valid (an accurate reflection of reality) Precision and care within the study design increase the odds that the study findings will be valid (an accurate reflection of reality)

Steps of nursing research 3. Conduct the study Gather subjects for the study Gather subjects for the study Collect the data Collect the data Accuracy & consistency are very important to ensure that the data is correct and truthful Accuracy & consistency are very important to ensure that the data is correct and truthful Researchers must work to minimize error in the data collection process Researchers must work to minimize error in the data collection process

Steps of nursing research 4. Analyze the data Statistical procedures are used to examine the numerical data gathered in a study Statistical procedures are used to examine the numerical data gathered in a study Enter data into computer and check for errors Enter data into computer and check for errors Perform analysis of the data using statistics designed for the research process Perform analysis of the data using statistics designed for the research process Interpret the data to develop findings and conclusions Interpret the data to develop findings and conclusions

Steps of nursing research 5. Use the findings Adapt the research study findings so that they can be used in clinical practice Adapt the research study findings so that they can be used in clinical practice Spread the word about the study and findings through journal articles and conferences Spread the word about the study and findings through journal articles and conferences Come up with recommendations for further research Come up with recommendations for further research * Research is not done when a study is completed- more research is always waiting to be done! * Research is not done when a study is completed- more research is always waiting to be done!

Ethics and nursing research Right to anonymity and confidentiality Anonymity: when subject’s identity cannot be linked, even by the researcher, with his/her individual responses Anonymity: when subject’s identity cannot be linked, even by the researcher, with his/her individual responses Confidentiality: when subjects’ identity and information is kept anonymous from others Confidentiality: when subjects’ identity and information is kept anonymous from others

Confidentiality Researcher’s management of private information shared by a subject Researcher’s management of private information shared by a subject Researchers must not share this information without consent of the subject Researchers must not share this information without consent of the subject Breach of confidentiality: Breach of confidentiality: when researcher allows unauthorized person to gain access to confidential study information when researcher allows unauthorized person to gain access to confidential study information When subject’s identity is revealed when study is published/reported When subject’s identity is revealed when study is published/reported

Confidentiality

Scientific misconduct Plagiarism: Intentionally representing someone else’s work as your own Intentionally representing someone else’s work as your own Rewording your own paper to create a new paper based on the same data Rewording your own paper to create a new paper based on the same data Sharing confidential information from others Sharing confidential information from others

Research misconduct Fabrication: making up results Fabrication: making up results Falsification: changing results Falsification: changing results Plagiarism: copying results Plagiarism: copying results