N 515 Is nursing research really necessary for the profession?
Answer to Question 1
The nursing profession is one of the most critical in the healthcare industry with over 3 million practitioners at different levels and specialties. This implies that they must use research-based interventions to deliver quality and cost-effective care. Nursing research is necessary as it allows nurses to use effective best practices and improve patient care (Younas, 2017). Nurses in advanced education programs must possess research skills so that they learn to retrieve, read, critique and apply research findings in clinical practice. Nursing research enables nurses to respond to changes in the healthcare setting, patient populations and regulatory requirements.
Answer to Question 2
Nursing research relates to evidence-based practice in several ways that include the translation of best practices and interventions into nursing care environment. Nursing research ensures that nurses use EBP interventions to improve care delivery and ensure patient safety. Understanding the research process assists nurses approach their tasks with critical thinking skills (Spurlock Jr, 2017). Therefore, nursing research allows practitioners to integrate the most appropriate skills and competencies in care delivery for quality patient outcomes. Evidence-based practice offers nurses with scientific research to make well-founded decisions. Imperatively, without nursing research, nurses cannot understand the EBP processes and models for effective application in their practice environment.
Answer to Question 3
Nurses encounter different challenges that can benefit from research and evidence-based practice. These include quality care provision in clinical settings, attaining better communication among care providers and teams, and developing an inter-professional approach to patient issues (Price & Reichert, 2017). The use of critical thinking skills and attributes also requires nurses to apply research or evidence-based practice interventions. Effective communication is a critical component of care delivery and requires nurses to use best practices for quality care delivery.
References
Price, S., & Reichert, C. (2017). The importance of continuing professional development to career satisfaction and patient care: meeting the needs of novice to mid-to late-career nurses throughout their career span. Administrative Sciences, 7(2), 17. doi:10.3390/admsci7020017
Spurlock Jr, D. (2017). The purpose and power of reporting effect sizes in nursing education
research. Journal of Nursing Education, 56(11), 645-647.
doi: 10.3928/01484834-20171020-02.
Younas, A. (2017). A foundational analysis of Dorothy Orem’s self-care theory and evaluation
of its significance for nursing practice and research. Creative Nursing, 23(1), 13-23.
doi: 10.1891/1078-4535.23.1.13.