Introducing Research and Its

Use in Nursing Practice

Dr. Nidal F. Eshah

RN, CNS, PhD
 Nurses are expected to deliver the highest
possible quality of care in a compassionate
manner, while also being mindful of costs.

 Nurses are increasingly expected to become

producers of new knowledge.

Through Nursing Research

 History of Nursing Research
 Florence Nightingale pioneered research, 1850s
 First journal on research (Nursing Research)
emerged, 1950s
 Clinical research becomes increasingly important,
1970s
 National Center for Nursing Research established at
NIH, 1986
 National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
established, 1993
 NINR budget exceeds $100 million, 2000s
 What Is Research?
Research
Systematic inquiry using disciplined methods to
solve problems or answer questions.

Nursing research
Systematic inquiry to develop knowledge about
issues of importance to the nursing profession.
 Goal: to develop, refine, and expand a body
of knowledge.

 Nursing research is essential if nurses are to

understand the varied dimensions of their
profession.
 Clinical nursing research:
that is, research designed to generate
knowledge to guide nursing practice and to
improve the health and quality of life of
nurses’ clients.

 Evidence-based practice (EBP):

the use of the best clinical evidence in
making patient care decisions.
 Roles of Nurses in Research
* Continuum of participation, from producer of
research to intelligent consumer of research
findings.

 Research utilization:
the use of research findings in a practice
setting
(intelligent nursing research consumers).
 Future Directions for Nursing
Research
 Heightened focus on evidence-based
practice
 Increased use of multiple confirmatory
strategies and replication
 Greater stress on integrative reviews
 Increased multidisciplinary collaboration
 Expanded dissemination of research
findings
 Greater focus on outcomes research
 Sources of Evidence for Nursing
Practice
 Tradition
 Authority
 Clinical experience; trial and error; intuition
 Logical reasoning (inductive & deductive)
 Assembled information (e.g., quality
improvement data)
 Disciplined research
Paradigms and Methods for Nursing
Research
Paradigm—a world view; a general
perspective on the complexities of the
real world, with certain assumptions
about reality
Key paradigms for nursing research:
 Positivist paradigm

 Naturalistic paradigm
 What Is the Nature of Reality?
(Ontology)
 Positivist assumption:
Reality exists; there is a real world driven by
natural causes.

 Naturalist assumption:
Reality is multiple and subjective; constructed
by individuals.
 How Is the Inquirer Related to
Those Being Studied?
(Epistemology)
 Positivist assumption: The inquirer is
independent from those being studied.

 Naturalist assumption: The inquirer

interacts with those being studied;
findings reflect this interaction.
 What Is the Role of Values in the
Inquiry?
(Axiology)
 Positivist assumption: Values are held
in check; objectivity is sought.

 Naturalist assumption: Subjectivity and

values are inevitable, desirable.
 How Is Knowledge Obtained?
(Methodology)

 Quantitative research—most often

allied with the positivist tradition

 Qualitative research—most often

allied with the naturalist tradition
 Key Differences in Research Methods

Positivist Naturalistic
Fixed design Flexible design
Discrete, specific concepts Holistic
Deductive processes Inductive processes
Control over context Context-bound
Verification of hunches Emerging interpretations
Quantitative information Qualitative information
(empirical evidence)
Seeks generalizations Seeks patterns
 The Purposes of Nursing Research

 Identification
 Description
 Exploration
 Explanation
 Prediction
 Control
 Research enables nurses to
 describe the characteristics of a particular nursing
situation about which little is known;
 to explain phenomena that must be considered in
planning nursing care;
 to predict the probable outcomes of certain nursing
decisions;
 to control the occurrence of undesired outcomes;
 to initiate activities to promote desired client behavior.