Importance of Research in Nursing – Sumi Subedi

Importance of Research in Nursing

Research is the systematic inquiry that uses disciplined method to answer questions or solve a problem. The word “Research” means to search again, to examine more carefully and specifically.

According to Notter, Research is  the process that systematically searches for new facts and relationships. French Ruth said that “Research is the problem solving process, a systematic, intensive study directed towards full , scientific knowledge of the object studied.”

Research is the manipulation of things, concepts or symbols for the purpose of generalization to extend, correct or verify knowledge whether that knowledge aids in the construction of theory or in the practice of an art. – Slesinger and M. Stephenon

By Redman and Mory, Research is a systematized effort to gain new knowledge.

Sekaran stated that “Research is an organized, systematic, data based, critical, scientific enquiry or investigation into a specific problem, undertaken with the objective of finding answers or solution to it.”

Research is usually done

  • To answer the questions related to specific topic.
  • To solve the unsolved problems.
  • To gain in-depth and new information related to the topic.
  • For the development of scientific knowledge.
  • To satisfy curiosity.
  • To collect facts.
  • To analyse standards and guides for action.
  • To describe a state of affairs.
  • To determine cause and effect.
  • For the advancement of the knowledge and be familiar with newer technology.

What is Nursing?

Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families and communities. “ Nursing is the care which puts a person in the best possible condition for nature to restore or     preserve health, to prevent or to care disease or injury ” said Florence Nightingle.

According to Virginia Henderson “ Nursing is assisting the individual, sick or well, to perform those activities contributing to health or recovery that he would perform unaided, if he had the necessary strength, will or knowledge, and to  do this in such a way as to help him gain independence as rapidly as possible”.

What is Research in Nursing?

The Journal of Nursing Education defines nursing research as the “systematic inquiry designed to develop knowledge about issues of importance to nurses, including nursing practice, nursing education and nursing administration.”

As nurses are the health care professionals, hospital is not only the area where nurses  are involved in work. The scope of nursing is wide  and nurses are involved in various sectors. Some of the nurses are involved in teaching profession, some work as community health worker, some as trainer in various projects, likewise some as government officers, many are involved in hospital. Hospital itself also includes various departments like gynae, surgery, medicine, pediatric, oncology, dialysis, pre and post operative department, emergency, orthopedics, intensive care unit etc.

Hence the scope of  nursing is wider and the responsibilities to be carried out by nurses  are many.There are many working areas for nurse and they are scattered in various field; research plays vital role in nursing profession.

Nurses are the one who are involved in caring of patients, they interact with patient and tackle with their problems, deal with various patients with different knowledge standards and level of  understanding on a daily basis. Nurse have the idea how  to  deal with which kind of patient and how to interact with them, which type of treatment method  will be beneficial for whom, They know which type  of  treatment method  works well, which should be focused and which should be terminated. They inquiry by themselves to introduce newer techniques of treatment and method  to deal  with patients.

The importance of research in nursing are;

  1. To improve nursing standards.
  2. To improve nursing education system.
  3. To help nurses investigate more carefully related to various nursing diagnosis and other problems.
  4. To help nursing staffs to gain in-depth information related to various topic.
  5. To help nurses to investigate regarding various methods of treatment in advanced form.
  6. To enquiry regarding newer methods to deal with the problem.
  7. To provide quality care to the patient.
  8. To invent new techniques to care patient.
  9. To provide cost effective patient care.
  10. To save nursing profession legally.
  11. To develop and improve nursing standards.
  12. To update newer informations.
  13. To become dynamic.
  14. To improve the health of community people.
  15. To solve daily obstacles.
  16. To update informations on various field where the nurses are involved.

Hence, research plays vital role in nursing profession and nurses should do research for upgrading their  knowledge, solving their queries, provide quality care to patient and be competent enough to tackle the daily obstacles.

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