For some nursing students, gaining research skills can seem unnecessary to earning a degree if you want to work in a hands-on, patient-facing role. However, understanding research in nursing is critical for several reasons, even if that particular career path isn’t currently on your radar.
Research informs every aspect of nursing, from how to ensure patient safety to incorporating technology into bedside care. Specifically, research provides empirical data to support evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing. EBP involves integrating the best available research with clinical expertise and patient preferences to make informed decisions about patient care. This approach results in more effective and safer healthcare interventions, ultimately improving patient outcomes.
Gaining skills in this space becomes increasingly valuable as nurses pursue career advancement and potentially take on additional decision-making and leadership authority. According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs emphasize research skills in order to “prepare nurses to evaluate research findings and to develop and implement evidence-based practice guidelines.” The leadership skills developed in an advanced nursing program allow nurses to identify areas of concern that can benefit from further study, lead and coordinate research teams and collaborate with peers and researchers.
Lamar University’s online Registered Nurse (RN) to MSN program fosters research skills in nurses by offering a supportive learning environment and relevant content, such as the Nursing Research course and the Nursing Practice: Compromised Multiple Health States course. Students in the program explore research methodologies and principles, evaluate existing nursing research literature, develop a research proposal and apply findings.
What Are Some Types of Research in Nursing?
Many types of research in nursing exist, and nurses need to understand the benefits and uses of each. For example, Simply Psychology explains that quantitative research collects “numerical data and analyzes it using statistical methods.” This process establishes objective data points to test the validity of hypotheses and make predictions.
Alternatively, qualitative research uses “non-numerical data such as words, images, and sounds,” notes Simply Psychology. Researchers collect information through observation and interviews to understand individual experiences and perceptions more deeply, possibly shedding light on the human aspects of nursing care.
Both types have a role and purpose, and understanding each gives nurses a holistic understanding of how research is conducted and interpreted.
How Does Research Improve Nursing?
Research is essential for nurses to do their job, advancing the profession and patient care. Research improves nursing care in the following ways:
- Influences care practices. Understanding the latest research can shape nurses’ clinical care practices, doubly so for those leading clinical teams. Nurses who interpret research and translate it to EBP concepts can optimize care strategies and ensure that healthcare practices remain relevant.
- Strengthens healthcare policy. Nursing research informs healthcare policy decisions at local, national and global levels. Nurses familiar with research methodologies and emerging trends can advocate for policies that promote patient safety and equitable access to care. Plus, their input can drive lawmakers and healthcare systems to make changes that benefit both patients and the nursing workforce.
- Fosters leadership skills. Research in nursing cultivates critical-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills — all essential traits today’s nursing leaders need. Decision-making often relies on evaluating complex information and data, so research-minded nurses are better equipped to take on these responsibilities and effect positive organizational changes.
- Advances career and compensation. The solid understanding of research developed during an MSN program can open new career opportunities and other forms of compensation. Nurses with research skills may pursue roles in academia, clinical research, healthcare administration or leadership.
Research is integral to modern nursing practice. Nurses who continue to develop their research skills can provide evidence-based care, adapt to evolving healthcare practices and advocate for the well-being of their patients and communities.
Learn more about Lamar University’s RN to MSN online program.
