Research Findings Used in Nursing Schools
Two kinds of research findings are used in nursing schools: results of medical research and research on how better to teach nursing. The goal of medical research is ultimately to create innovative practices in which the nurse and physician collaborate, according to nursing educators at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. New medical science calls for research into new teaching methods to help nursing students translate innovations from classrooms to the bedside.
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Evidence-Based Nursing
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According to a 2008 report published in "Evidence-Based Nursing," by David S. Thompson's research team, nationally based funding in the U.S., U.K. and Canada actively encourage nursing schools to integrate research findings into the classroom and ultimately into practice. This emphasis recognizes that teaching research findings improves clinical patient outcomes and health care efficiency; however, Thompson reports, successful application of research findings taught in nursing schools to clinical settings remains limited. Evidence-based nursing teaches that only practices shown by research to improve patient care results should be used.
Research Application
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Most nursing schools, ranging from baccalaureate to doctoral level programs, require coursework that teaches medical research findings so innovations can be implemented in clinical care. For instance, the Center for Nursing Research, established 1996 at the University at Buffalo in New York, facilitates research by faculty and students with the goal of interdisciplinary work and study. Students, faculty and physicians develop theoretical, methodological and clinical practice guidelines based on their research. Examples of nursing research topics include health care needs of migrant farm workers and Native Americans, psychological care of women with breast cancer, nutritional and weight-loss problems associated with cancer, cardiovascular epidemiology, adolescent health, firefighter fitness and many others.
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Nursing Education Research
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The National League for Nursing (NLN) conducts ongoing research into educational methods used in nursing schools. NLN's "Annual Survey of Schools of Nursing" has been generating educational statistics from more than 1,000 American nursing programs since the early 1960s. Research into trends in the nursing student population, faculty, policy makers and scientific research direct the development and refinement of nursing education. NLN's stated goal is research that promotes evidence-based teaching. This advances nursing education as a science. The NLN also provides grant programs for study of public policy and research on educational methods.
Possible Pitfalls
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One opinion poll of nursing practitioners in 2005, conducted online by All Nurses, suggests that at least some nurses sense that research findings are underused in nursing education and later practice. Reasons suggested include a perceived lack of scientific rigor in the research, lack of sufficient political power within the health care system and insufficient funding to mount complex, large scale studies. New findings can also be seen as a threat or destabilizing to old, comfortable ways. No validation of these opinions was offered, but these opinions are consistent with Thompson's observations. They represent considerations new researchers can take into account to make their findings more relevant in nursing education.
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References
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