Key Historical Developments in Nursing Research and Nursing Research Utilization
Key Historical Developments
The purpose of this paper is to discuss four key historical developments in nursing research and its utilization. Nursing research is the “scientific process that validates and refines the existing knowledge and generates knowledge that directly and indirectly influences clinical nursing practice” (Burns & Grove, 2007, pg. 548). Whereas nursing research utilization, is the process of taking the products of nursing research and applying them to practice in order to improve patient care. This discussion will include the research advancements of Florence Nightingale and the creation of the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) and the publication of Image, the Sigma Theta Tau Journal, and the Conduct and Utilization of Research in Nursing (CURN) Project as research utilization tools.
One cannot begin a discussion on nursing research without considering the life and work of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War (1854-56). During her practice, she noticed that because of poor hygiene and inadequate food storage, her patients had an increased mortality and morbidity. Nightingale collected and analyzed data related to the deaths of soldiers during the Crimean War. The focus of her research was the importance of a healthy environment on the mental and physical well-being of the patient (Burns & Groves, 2007). Ms Nightingale supported her findings using statistical diagrams that helped make her work understandable to all. Because of her life’s work, the military realized that the sick and wounded had a right to adequate food, shelter, and medical treatment. The military hospital system reformed and morbidity and mortality reduced. The use of her nursing research led to significant changes outside of the military as well. Florence Nightingale was also a leader in the formation of public health nursing in England. Her work during the war led to widespread changes after the war as well.
In 1985, the National Institutes of Health
The purpose of this paper is to discuss four key historical developments in nursing research and its utilization. Nursing research is the “scientific process that validates and refines the existing knowledge and generates knowledge that directly and indirectly influences clinical nursing practice” (Burns & Grove, 2007, pg. 548). Whereas nursing research utilization, is the process of taking the products of nursing research and applying them to practice in order to improve patient care. This discussion will include the research advancements of Florence Nightingale and the creation of the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) and the publication of Image, the Sigma Theta Tau Journal, and the Conduct and Utilization of Research in Nursing (CURN) Project as research utilization tools.
One cannot begin a discussion on nursing research without considering the life and work of Florence Nightingale during the Crimean War (1854-56). During her practice, she noticed that because of poor hygiene and inadequate food storage, her patients had an increased mortality and morbidity. Nightingale collected and analyzed data related to the deaths of soldiers during the Crimean War. The focus of her research was the importance of a healthy environment on the mental and physical well-being of the patient (Burns & Groves, 2007). Ms Nightingale supported her findings using statistical diagrams that helped make her work understandable to all. Because of her life’s work, the military realized that the sick and wounded had a right to adequate food, shelter, and medical treatment. The military hospital system reformed and morbidity and mortality reduced. The use of her nursing research led to significant changes outside of the military as well. Florence Nightingale was also a leader in the formation of public health nursing in England. Her work during the war led to widespread changes after the war as well.
In 1985, the National Institutes of Health
References: Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2007). Understanding nursing research: Building an evidence-based practice (4th ed.). St. Louis: Saunders Elsevier. Retrieved February 24, 2009 from University of Phoenix, NUR/429—Research Utilization in Nursing Course Web site. Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International (2009). Sigma Theta Tau International. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from http://www.nursingsociety.org National Institute of Health (2008). National Institute of Nursing Research. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from http://www.ninr.nih.gov/AboutNINR/NINRMissionandStrategicPlan/