NURSE 3040 CHP 1
Research - answersystematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer questions
and solve problems. The ultimate goal of formal research is to gain knowledge that
would be useful for many people.
Nursing research - answerSystematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about
issues of importance to the nursing profession.
clinical nursing research - answerresearch designed to guide nursing practice.
evidence-based practice (EBP) - answerA practice that involves making clinical
decisions based on an integration of the best available evidence, most often from
disciplined research, with clinical expertise and patient preferences.Such evidence
typically comes from research conducted by nurses and other health care professionals.
EX: "kangaroo care" holding preterm babies in NICU skin to skin has clinical benefits
and no negative side effects.
consumers of nursing research - answernurses who read research reports to keep up-
to-date on findings that may affect their practice.
producers of nursing research - answernurses who actively design and undertake
studies. At one time, most nurse researchers were academics who taught in schools of
nursing, but research is increasingly being conducted by practicing nurses who want to
find what works best for their clients.
Even if you never conduct a study, you may do one of the following: - answer-Contribute
an idea for a clinical inquiry
-Assist in collecting research information
-Offer advice to clients about participating in a study
-Search for research evidence
-Discuss the implications of a study in a journal club in your practice setting, which
involves meetings to discuss research articles
Future of nursing - answer-Continued focus on EBP (using research findings in practice)
-Stronger evidence through confirmatory strategies
-Continued emphasis on systematic reviews (rigorously integrate research information
on a topic so that conclusions about the state of evidence can be reached)
-Expanded local research in health care settings
-Expanded dissemination of research findings
, -Increased focus on cultural issues and health disparities (Research must be sensitive
to the beliefs, behaviors, epidemiology, and values of culturally and linguistically diverse
populations)
-Clinical significance and patient input (A major challenge in the years ahead will involve
incorporating both research evidence and patient preferences into clinical decisions)
NINR's Strategic Plan, launched in 2011 and updated in 2013, described five areas of
focus - answerpromoting health and preventing disease
symptom management and self-management
end-of-life and palliative care
innovation
the development of nurse scientists
Tradition and Authority - answerSome nursing interventions are based on untested
traditions, customs, and "unit culture" rather than on sound evidence. Indeed, a recent
analysis suggests that some "sacred cows" (ineffective traditional habits) persist even in
a health care center recognized as a leader in EBP (Hanrahan et al., 2015). Another
common source of knowledge is an authority, a person with specialized expertise.
Reliance on authorities (such as nursing faculty or textbook authors) is unavoidable.
Authorities, however, are not infallible—particularly if their expertise is based primarily
on personal experience; yet, their knowledge is often unchallenged.
EX: Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote in his book as an authority that baby should sleep on it's
stomach from the beginning if willing. Later research had found a link between SIDS
and babies sleeping on their stomachs. If this advice wouldn't have been given about
60,000 lives could have been saved.
Clinical Experience and Trial and Error - answerClinical experience is a functional
source of knowledge. Yet, personal experience has limitations as a source of evidence
for practice because each nurse's experience is too narrow to be generally useful, and
personal experiences are often colored by biases. Trial and error involves trying
alternatives successively until a solution to a problem is found. Trial and error can be
practical, but the method tends to be haphazard, and solutions may be idiosyncratic.
Assembled Information - answerIn making clinical decisions, health care professionals
also rely on information that has been assembled for various purposes.
EX: local, national, and international benchmarking data provide information on such
issues as the rates of using various procedures (e.g., rates of cesarean deliveries) or
rates of clinical problems (e.g., nosocomial infections). Quality improvement and risk
data, such as medication error reports, can be used to assess practices and determine
the need for practice changes. Such sources offer useful information but provide no
mechanism to actually guide improvements.
Disciplined Research - answerconsidered the best method of acquiring reliable
knowledge that humans have developed. Evidence-based health care compels nurses
to base their clinical practice, to the extent possible, on rigorous research-based
Research - answersystematic inquiry that uses disciplined methods to answer questions
and solve problems. The ultimate goal of formal research is to gain knowledge that
would be useful for many people.
Nursing research - answerSystematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about
issues of importance to the nursing profession.
clinical nursing research - answerresearch designed to guide nursing practice.
evidence-based practice (EBP) - answerA practice that involves making clinical
decisions based on an integration of the best available evidence, most often from
disciplined research, with clinical expertise and patient preferences.Such evidence
typically comes from research conducted by nurses and other health care professionals.
EX: "kangaroo care" holding preterm babies in NICU skin to skin has clinical benefits
and no negative side effects.
consumers of nursing research - answernurses who read research reports to keep up-
to-date on findings that may affect their practice.
producers of nursing research - answernurses who actively design and undertake
studies. At one time, most nurse researchers were academics who taught in schools of
nursing, but research is increasingly being conducted by practicing nurses who want to
find what works best for their clients.
Even if you never conduct a study, you may do one of the following: - answer-Contribute
an idea for a clinical inquiry
-Assist in collecting research information
-Offer advice to clients about participating in a study
-Search for research evidence
-Discuss the implications of a study in a journal club in your practice setting, which
involves meetings to discuss research articles
Future of nursing - answer-Continued focus on EBP (using research findings in practice)
-Stronger evidence through confirmatory strategies
-Continued emphasis on systematic reviews (rigorously integrate research information
on a topic so that conclusions about the state of evidence can be reached)
-Expanded local research in health care settings
-Expanded dissemination of research findings
, -Increased focus on cultural issues and health disparities (Research must be sensitive
to the beliefs, behaviors, epidemiology, and values of culturally and linguistically diverse
populations)
-Clinical significance and patient input (A major challenge in the years ahead will involve
incorporating both research evidence and patient preferences into clinical decisions)
NINR's Strategic Plan, launched in 2011 and updated in 2013, described five areas of
focus - answerpromoting health and preventing disease
symptom management and self-management
end-of-life and palliative care
innovation
the development of nurse scientists
Tradition and Authority - answerSome nursing interventions are based on untested
traditions, customs, and "unit culture" rather than on sound evidence. Indeed, a recent
analysis suggests that some "sacred cows" (ineffective traditional habits) persist even in
a health care center recognized as a leader in EBP (Hanrahan et al., 2015). Another
common source of knowledge is an authority, a person with specialized expertise.
Reliance on authorities (such as nursing faculty or textbook authors) is unavoidable.
Authorities, however, are not infallible—particularly if their expertise is based primarily
on personal experience; yet, their knowledge is often unchallenged.
EX: Dr. Benjamin Spock wrote in his book as an authority that baby should sleep on it's
stomach from the beginning if willing. Later research had found a link between SIDS
and babies sleeping on their stomachs. If this advice wouldn't have been given about
60,000 lives could have been saved.
Clinical Experience and Trial and Error - answerClinical experience is a functional
source of knowledge. Yet, personal experience has limitations as a source of evidence
for practice because each nurse's experience is too narrow to be generally useful, and
personal experiences are often colored by biases. Trial and error involves trying
alternatives successively until a solution to a problem is found. Trial and error can be
practical, but the method tends to be haphazard, and solutions may be idiosyncratic.
Assembled Information - answerIn making clinical decisions, health care professionals
also rely on information that has been assembled for various purposes.
EX: local, national, and international benchmarking data provide information on such
issues as the rates of using various procedures (e.g., rates of cesarean deliveries) or
rates of clinical problems (e.g., nosocomial infections). Quality improvement and risk
data, such as medication error reports, can be used to assess practices and determine
the need for practice changes. Such sources offer useful information but provide no
mechanism to actually guide improvements.
Disciplined Research - answerconsidered the best method of acquiring reliable
knowledge that humans have developed. Evidence-based health care compels nurses
to base their clinical practice, to the extent possible, on rigorous research-based
