Concept on Nursing Research – In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bringing about a certain goal, like acquiring knowledge or verifying knowledge claims. This normally involves various steps, like choosing a sample, collecting data from this sample, and interpreting the data. The study of methods concerns a detailed description and analysis of these processes. It includes evaluative aspects by comparing different methods.
In this way, their benefits and drawbacks are evaluated, as well as the research goals for which they may be used. These descriptions and evaluations are predicated on philosophical background assumptions; examples include how to conceptualize the phenomena under study and what constitutes evidence in favor of or against them. In its broadest sense, methodology encompasses the discussion of these more abstract issues.
Concept on Nursing Research
Nurses use research to provide evidence-based care that promotes quality health outcomes for individuals, families, communities and health care systems. Nurses also use research to shape health policy in direct care, within an organization, and at the local, state and federal levels. Nurses conduct research, use research in practice, and teach about research.
Nursing research has a tremendous influence on current and future professional nursing practice, thus rendering it an essential component of the educational process. Nursing research is critical to the nursing profession and is necessary for continuing advancements that promote optimal nursing care.
Definition of Nursing Research
According to Burns and Groove, 1993
Nursing research is a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly influences nursing practice.
According to Polit and Beck
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.
According to Falbot
Nursing research is a systematic approach to examine phenomena important to nursing and nurses.
According to Craven and Hernel
Nursing research is a systemic inquiry to problem encounter in nursing practice and into modalities of client care such as-
- Support and comfort
- Prevention of trauma
- Promotion of recovery
- Health education
- Health appraisal and
- Coordination of health care.
(Ref by- Nirmala V/Research Methodology in Nursing/1″/7 and handout)
Scope of Nursing Research
- To improve the standard of nursing care
- To redefine the existing theories and discovering new theories
- To discover new measures for nursing practice
- To foster a commitment to client
- To provide basis for professional accountability
- To impart professionalism in nursing
- To help in decision making
- To improve standard in nursing education
- To help in documentation
- To bridge the gap between knowledge and practice
- To build a body of knowledge in nursing profession
- To make health care efficient and cost effective
- To improve intellectual competency and technical skill in an individual.
- To foster a commitment and accountability in profession
- To discover new message for nursing practice
- To relate the problems
- To identify the role of nurse in changing society
- To discover new facts about a known phenomenon
- To find a solution on immediate practical problem of nursing
- To act as a basis for standard setting and quality assurance.
(Ref by-Seenidurai Paulraj/Introduction to Nursing Research/1″/7)
Purposes of Nursing Research
- The purpose of research is to either or test a theory. Research is the instrument used to test whether a theory is good or not. It is the process by which data is gathered to generate a theory or used to test a theory.
- Study various aspect of problem care.
- It unravels the mysteries of life.
- It aims to analyze inter-relationship between variable and to derive casual explanation
- Compare two or more methods of care.
- Evaluate the theory of nursing.
- Find out certain conclusion.
- Achieve new trend in the phenomenon.
- It aids planning and helps in national development
- It aims at finding solutions to problem
- To prepare oneself to be diligent practitioner of research.
- It helps in the development of general laws
- It aims at developing new tools, concept, and theories for a better study of unknown phenomena
- It extends knowledge of human beings regarding social life and environment.
For EQ
Purposes of Nursing Research
Nurses engage in research for number of reasons. As professionals, nurses seek to establish a scientific base of knowledge for nursing. Additionally, the systematic accrual of nursing information enables nurses to better define the parameters of nursing, document the unique contribution nursing makes to health care, determine the effectiveness of nursing actions, develop theoretical frameworks for clinical practices, and enhance more informed clinical decision making. There is growing consensus that knowledge of nursing research is needed to enhance the professional practices of all nurses.
Research is a fundamental essential prerequisite for any profession. The specific purpose of nursing research includes identification, description, exploration, explanation, prediction, and control of facts. Therefore, nursing research enables nurses in the following ways:
- Develop, refine, and extend the scientific base of knowledge, which is required for quality nursing care, education, and administration.
- Enhance the body of professional knowledge in nursing.)
- Provide foundation for EBN practices.
- Help in expansion of knowledge, which is essential for continued growth of nursing profession.
- Enhance their professional identity as research is an essential component of any profession.
- Define the parameters of nursing, which will help nurses to identify boundaries of
- nursing profession, Refine and eliminate old knowledge so that it helps in elimination of nursing actions that
- have no effect on the achievement of desired client outcomes.
- Identify nursing care practices that make a difference in health, care status of individuals and are cost-effective.
- Enhance accuracy of different nursing educational and administrative techniques.
- Develop and refine nursing theories and principles.
- Solve the problems or answer the questions related to nursing practices, nursing education, and nursing administration.
(Ref by- Suresh K. Sharma/ Nursing Research and Statistics/3/13)
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