The Importance of Nursing Research in Clinical Practice - Essay Example

RESEARCH Question 1 Meaning of Research Nursing research may take different forms determined by the perspective of those carrying out the research. The research is an organized and diligent process of enquiry whose objective is to describe phenomena and to unfold explanatory theories and concepts. Fundamentally it targets to provide to a scientific body of understanding (Moule & Goodman 2009: 5). Research results are not solutions to problems but give new understanding of the phenomena or reject, add or confirm what is known. It is very necessary for decisions to be made on whether to adopt the research and how or not (Parahoo 2014:11). A research is the inductive and deductive technique of collecting data, making conclusions or has a doubt about an issue and search for supporting evidence of our belief (Parahoo 2014:30). Importance of research and its contribution to developing and supporting clinical practice The importance of research in clinical practice is that it provides analysis used to guide nursing profession. Clinical nursing research is based on the problems arising from the practice. Nursing research is conducted on patients facing real problems and the analysis gives chances of solving the problems through upgrading of nursing care (Polit & Beck 2014:2). There are two types of research that is basic and applied research. The basic research is undertaken to enlarge the foundation of understanding in the profession, produce or improve a theory. On the other hand, applied research seeks to find solutions to existing problems. The research develops and supports clinical practice through recognition, exploration, prediction, explanation, description, and control of problems in the nursing practice (Polit & Beck 2004:18). The nurses in practice are expected to have immense knowledge and apply research and base their practice on evidence-based research. The evidence-based practice is the application of the best evidence from research carried out by other health professionals and nurses to make patient care decisions. The nursing decisions based on evidence-based analysis are clinically suitable, cost-effective and results to positive patient outcomes (Polit & Beck 2014:3). Question 2 Qualitative research A qualitative research is a wide word that covers various techniques and thoughts hence its complex nature. It is an approach that permits study of people’s encounters in depth, by employing a particular set of research techniques such as detailed interviews, observation, biographies, focus group discussions, visual techniques, content analysis, and life histories (Morse 1994:124). The most unique feature of qualitative research is that it permits recognition of problems from the perspective of a particular study or participants. Moreover, it gives knowledge of the `meaning and explanation that they provide events, objects and behaviour. In qualitative research, soft science is employed and is subjective. For example to understand their encounter of disability or disease, recognize their cultural or social beliefs, and their encounter of using a health service (Hennink, Hutter & Bailey 2011:8). In qualitative research practices and viewpoints are not the same due to different social background and subjective perspectives (Flick 2009:16). The qualitative research involves interpretive approach where the researcher examines things in their natural surroundings and tries to interpret phenomena in view of the people’s meaning. Quantitative research The quantitative research is an authoritative, unbiased deductive approach to solving the problem. In this research there is only one reality that can be studied (Latimer 2003:32). Both the participant and the researcher are not dependent on each other that mean they do not influence one another. The results from the research could be generalised from the examination sample and applied to a bigger target population. The causes and effects of the problem can be put to test, and the research is conducted free from any values and objectively (Polit & Beck 2012:47). The quantitative research considers hard science and is objective. In this research, the researcher focus is narrow and concise and is used to test the concept. The basic components of the analysis in this research are statistical and numbers analysis (Holland & Rees 2010:106). Question 3 Definition of the research process and different approaches to research The research processes are tools and techniques used to gather and investigate visible phenomena to confirm the uncertain explanation about them, how they survive and relate to one another in real world (Jolley 2010: 67). There are different steps in the research process that, usually, follow the order. The primary components involved in the research process are: - A research vision. - A research problem. - A research proposal. - Evaluation of the literature. - Improving the research topic to form particular questions. - Methodology. - The research techniques to be used and it includes ethical deliberations and trial work, data analysis, data collection and sampling methods. - How to present findings from the research. - Discussion of the analysis and the conclusions drawn from it. - A detailed written report about the research and release to the nursing profession. There are different approaches to the research process used by various researchers that include qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods (Cormack 2006:4). Nevertheless, various names are given to mixed techniques of the research process, for example, multi-strategy research or combined methods research. These terms show the spectrum of ways in which combination can happen in a research process. The use of various approaches in the research process strengthens a nursing proposal. To achieve quality in a research process the most suitable approach for the studying the issue should be implemented. Also on the issue of quality, the researcher should embrace a rigorous, transparent and systematic approach for discovering, exploration, understanding and confirmation of the research. The interchange of nursing practice and nursing science plays a very essential role in health care all over the world. Exchange of information provides a universal perspective on health complications and the researchers become aware of daily nursing problems that need immediate attention (Holzemer 2010:36). In conclusion, the research process does not take place in a vacuum but it is an applied subject set in the background of ever changing academic community and relates to a complicated health care system. Bibliography CORMACK D. F. S. (2006) The Research Process in Nursing (5thed) Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publishers. FLICK, U. (2009). An introduction to qualitative research. Los Angeles, Sage Publications. http://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/271774639.html. HENNINK, M. M., HUTTER, I., & BAILEY, A. (2011). Qualitative research methods. London, SAGE. HOLLAND, K., & REES, C. (2010). Nursing: evidence-based practice skills. Oxford, Oxford University Press. HOLZEMER, WILLIAM L. (Ed) (2010) – Improving Health Through Nursing Research. Wiley Blackwell; Oxford. JOLLEY, J. (2010). Introducing research and evidence-based practice for nurses. Harlow, England, Pearson Education. LATIMER, JOANNA (eds) (2003) – Advanced Qualitative Research for Nursing Blackwell Science; Oxford. MORSE, JANICE M, (ED.) (1994) Critical Issues in Qualitative Research Methods. Sage Publications (Thousand Oaks, CA). MOULE, P., & GOODMAN, M. (2009). Nursing Research an Introduction. London, Sage Publications. http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=743558. POLIT, D. F., & BECK, C. T. (2014). Essentials of nursing research: appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, Wolters Kluwer Health /Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. POLIT, D. F., & BECK, C. T. (2004). Nursing research: principles and methods. Philadelphia, Penns, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. PARAHOO K (2014) Nursing Research; Principles, Process and Issues.Palgrave Macmillan; Basingstoke. POLIT D.F. & BECK CHERYL TATANO. (2012) Nursing Research. 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