Nurses are not only committed to their patients, but they are also concerned about the future well-being of the citizens of their community, state, country and the world. Research in nursing, which the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) says helps advance nursing practice by providing a growing body of knowledge, helps nurses shape health policy and improve healthcare globally.
Understanding Nursing Research
According to the National Institute of Nursing Research, knowledge generated by nursing research allows medical professionals to do the following:
- Prevent disease and disability.
- Manage symptoms of illness.
- Enhance end-of-life care.
Nurses use a problem-solving approach called evidence-based care to promote quality health outcomes. As the landscape of nursing care changes, and the needs of an aging population become more complex, nurses may use evidence-based care — incorporating nursing research and patient preferences into their own knowledge, according to the Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses.
Coursework in Nursing Research
The University of Rhode Island (URI) is known for being a research-intensive university, and that reputation extends to its online RN to BS in Nursing program. The URI nursing program is rich with educational opportunities for nursing students seeking an understanding of how nursing research helps them become better healthcare providers.
In particular, the Nursing Research course in the URI nursing program introduces students to the principles of scientific inquiry — the identification of various ways of analytical thinking common to problem-solving and critical thinking in nursing.
Scientific Inquiry
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing categorizes research in nursing into the following three categories:
- Clinical research, which looks at care for individuals across their life and is carried out anywhere nursing care is provided.
- Nursing education research, which examines how students learn the profession and discipline of nursing (often in university settings), including how to improve educational strategies.
- Health systems and outcomes research, which focuses on the quality, quantity and costs of healthcare services, including how to improve the delivery of care.
Research in nursing may have far-reaching and permanent effects on the healthcare industry. Indeed, nurses who are well-educated and who have a passion for imparting their wisdom and experiences will make a difference in not only the lives of their patients but also the well-being of others in their community and perhaps across the globe.
Learn more about the URI online RN to BS in Nursing program.
Sources:
National Institute of Nursing Research: What is Nursing Research?
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