Nurses in research are highly trained individuals who have the opportunity to take the subject matter being researched and apply it to beside care (McDermott, Hathaway & Saunders, 2014). Not all nurses are able to go into a field where they perform only research, but all nurses do have an obligation to apply newfound research to their nursing practice, and contribute to research whenever possible. For example, clinical nurses are in the best environment to be able to communicate with and observe patients, obtaining much-needed answers to research questions (Scala, Price & Day, 2016). In general, research is defined as: Investigation or experimentation aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts, revision of accepted theories or laws in the light of new facts, or practical application of such new or revised theories or laws (Merriam-Webster, 2015). Nursing research develops knowledge to:
Research is important to nursing practice as it enables us to keep the care we provide current and relevant. As nurses, we understand that work in a medical field is forever changing. Just because one way of doing things worked for 30 years does not mean it is the best way of doing things today. Results from research consistently change the way we provide care by giving us new and improved ways of doing so. Research gives us the knowledge to make informed clinical decisions as healthcare professionals, and it encourages us to think critically about our everyday practice. In fact, the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) sees it necessary that nurses allow research to inform their practice (CNO, pp. 10, 2014). Through the CNO, nursing has been a self-regulated profession since 1963. In order to ensure that best practice is provided, professional standards have been put in place that must be upheld by each and every nurse. These standards are evidence-based. Evidence-based practice is a problem-solving approach to clinical decision-making that integrates the best available evidence and clinical expertise, along with patient preference and values (Hain, 2015). By using evidence-based practice, we as healthcare professionals can ensure optimal patient outcomes. Examples of Other Guidelines Established by Organizations:
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