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Nurse Researchers: On The Quest for Knowledge & Answers

Have you ever come across something that leaves you pondering and asking yourself… why does it do that? What’s causing it to act that way? What’s making it do what it’s doing? Most of us will sit and contemplate the situation for a few minutes and then we’re off… distracted by whatever else life has to offer at that particular moment.

A Piqued Interest Paves the Way

When you examine the origins behind the careers of many nurse researchers you’ll find an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. For some, it was questions regarding a specific disease that sparked their desire to find answers. Others say it was the inability to provide answers to their patients’ questions that lead them to the research profession. Whatever the driving force is behind the quest for knowledge, nurse researchers are a valuable and necessary component in the progression of healthcare.

Nurses at all education levels can participate in nursing research, but your degree will help determine the role that you play. In 1989 the American Nurses Association (ANA) announced guidelines describing appropriate research activities for each education level.

Diploma or associate degree level – As a starting point for research involvement, nurses prepared at the diploma or associate degree level are expected to be able to:

• Assist with the identification of research problems
• Assist with data collection in a clinical setting
• Use nursing research in clinical practice with supervision

At the baccalaureate level, nurses are expected to be able to critique research studies and use research findings in clinical practice. The primary reason for these added expectations is that baccalaureate programs typically offer research courses, whereas diploma and associate degree programs generally do not. At the undergraduate level, the focus in these courses usually is on how to critique research studies and apply findings in clinical practice.

At the master’s degree level, nurses’ involvement in research can begin to include collaboration on research projects. Extensive clinical expertise, knowledge, and experience all contribute to a master’s prepared nurse’s ability to identify pertinent research questions. Ideally, an MSN should have the education and experience to examine a clinical situation or issue, “pull it apart,” determine the essence of the problem, and decide whether it is researchable.

The Right Ones for the Job

Nurses bring a unique perspective to the research industry. RNs offer a patient-centered approach to research projects. They are concerned with how findings will impact patients, an interest a lab technician, who has never worked with patients, might not have.

Although federal funding for nursing research only started in the 1950s, in 1986 it had a dramatic boost with the establishment of National Center for Nursing Research, later to become the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).Now qualified nurse researchers are in great demand, making research a practical career option for professional nurses. In this role, nurses can have a direct impact on the advancement of healthcare.

Nurses who work in the area of research advance the practice of nursing and improve patient care by conducting studies, analyzing data, and reporting their findings to the rest of the healthcare community. Nursing research encompasses all aspects of health that are integral to nursing, including health promotion, disease and injury prevention, curative care, rehabilitation and supportive care including palliative care. It also includes education, policy and the organization and delivery of nursing services. Nurses may also participate in pharmaceutical and medical research.

Next Generation of Nurse Researchers

New nurses in this field are essential to protect, enhance and preserve nursing science. This is why the NINR has such a strong commitment to training, one that is proportionately greater than other longer established institutes at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In fact, NINR supports nearly all postdoctoral training for nurse researchers across the country.

Nurses who find themselves passionate about learning should consider a career as a nurse researcher. Many nurse researchers first become interested in the field through involvement in research activities. If the quest for knowledge had piqued your interest — but you’re not quite ready to commit to school or a full-fledged research career — there are many opportunities to test the waters and evaluate your level of interest. The following are a few suggestions on how to get started:

• Look to qualified researchers and ask about opportunities for collaboration. Most researchers welcome enthusiastic newcomers who have some time and energy to devote to a project.
• Academic partners provide another opportunity for collaboration or consultation. Faculty researchers often are willing to mentor novice researchers in exchange for help with a project.
• Look to your colleagues for opportunities to collaborate on research efforts. Your fellow clinicians may be investigating practice-related issues or problems and may need your help critiquing their research.
• Think about whether you simply want to assist with research, use research, or actually be a primary investigator. Identify a mentor who can help guide you on your path. AORN has many master’s- and doctorate-prepared nurses who can help you in determining your next step in developing a research career.

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American Nurses Association, Commission on Nursing Research, Education for Preparation in Nursing Research (Kansas City, Mo: American Nurses Association, 1989).