Nursing Research (Term Paper Sample)

Nursing Research
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Nursing Research
Introduction
According to Polit and Beck (2004), nursing research “is a systematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about issues of importance to the nursing profession, including nursing practice, education, administration, and informatics” (p.3). It is a scientific process, which refines and validates present knowledge and engenders new information that indirectly or directly influences the practice of clinical nursing. Based on this definition, nursing research involves all studies relating to nursing administration, nursing practice and nursing education. Studies on the nurses themselves are also included in the broad classification of nursing research. This paper examines the nursing research, highlighting its difference from other research and explicating the meaning of being a consumer of nursing research. Lastly, it explains how nursing research contributes to the development of clinical skills, to the overall practice of nursing, and to professionalism.
Differences between Nursing Research and other research
Research is characterized by various features; first, the researcher makes use or orderly, objective and systematic methods of gathering information. The scientific approach utilizes empirical data. Information is obtained in the form of facts or data, which are collected in an unbiased way from some factor of the factual world. The researcher attempts to exercise control over the research context in order to minimize biased results. There are some similarities between scientific research and nursing research; both involve the identification of a problem, the establishment of a plan data collection and data evaluation. Nevertheless, the purposes of both types of research are quite different. Nursing research offers the scientific foundation for the practice of nursing as a profession.
Using multiple theories and philosophical-based methods, as well as diverse approaches, nursing research concentrates on the easement and understanding of the symptoms of chronic and acute illness; delayed or prevented the onset of disability or disease, or slowing the advancement thereof; discovering effective methods to attain and maintain optimal health, and enhancement of the clinical context in which care is offered (Burns & Grove, 2005). The educational processes, which prepare nurse scientists and nurses to succeed and the study of specialized socialization are also apposite emphases of nursing research, given the mounting demand for amassing effectiveness and efficiency in higher education and the dire need for the development of leadership skills in the nursing profession.
Other research, on the other hand research, have a broader purpose. Basic research seeks to obtain knowledge, which can be generalized to other contexts and individuals. Basic research is undertaken to advance, refine and test theories and spawn new knowledge. Whether basic research strives to develop or generate theories, the instantaneous application of the outcomes does not take place regularly, as opposed to nursing research, which is applied research.
A Consumer of Nursing Research
Becoming a consumer of nursing research implies making use of the results of studies to improve nursing practice. Nurses have depended on various knowledge sources to guide the practice of nursing. A great knowledge storehouse has been a tradition, which involves the handing down of knowledge across generations, leading to actions which occur because they have always been done on a single way (Burns & Grove, 2005). Authority has also been a source of knowledge; authorities and experts in a particular field frequently offer knowledge. Previously, nurses relied on physicians for a great share of practice knowledge, but in the recent years, nursing research has grown to be a primary source of practice knowledge.
Significance of nursing research
Nursing research contributes significantly to the development of clinical skills, to the overall practice of nursing, and professionalism. First, it endorses evidence-based practice. The main purpose of conducting nursing research is to nurture optimum care for customers. This implies that nurses should make clinical judgments based on superlative research evidence, clinical expertise, and health care predilections of customers. Even though evidence-based nursing practice might be based on aspects other than research outcomes, such as clinicians’ expertise and customers’ preferences, its aims are to offer the best care based on superlative research findings(Burns & Grove, 2005). Nursing as a profession exists to offer a service to the community, and this service must be based on exact knowledge. Nursing research has been defined as the most credible way of obtaining s...