Nursing research

Abstract

Research may be defined as a planned and systematic collection and analysis of information (data) for the purpose of seeking answers to specific questions and thereby increasing nursing knowledge. It is a crucial part of the continuing education and career development of all nurses. During the past twenty years, when research has been widely discussed both nationally and internationally, the question has often been asked: ‘What can nursing research do and what is its significance to nursing practice, management and education?’ The generally accepted answer to that question is that nursing research can:

• • optimize the quantity and quality of nursing care, management and education;

• • establish scientifically based principles for nursing practice, management and education;

• • initiate and develop constructive critical thinking in nurse clinicians, managers and teachers;

• • enable identification of the positive aspects of nursing activity which need further development;

• • enable identification and modification of those areas of nursing practice, management and education which are ineffective;

• • enable optimal use to be made of limited resources;

• • provide evidence which will support resource demand;

• • enable the construction of a professional and academic basis for nursing as a profession by the creation of scientifically based knowledge and skills.

Research is thus not a luxury for the academic, but a tool for developing the quality of nursing decisions, prescriptions and actions. Whether as clinicians, educators, managers or researchers we have a research responsibility; neglect of that responsibility could be classified as professional negligence. (McFarlane of Llandaff, 1984, p. xi)