Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice - Essay Example

Importance of nursing research to nursing science

Nursing research is important to nursing science because of its advantages and its scientific applications to nursing. One of the reasons for nursing research’s importance to nursing science is its application in evidence-based practice in which research findings are used to guide decisions in nursing. Nursing research explores and establishes applicable concepts and theories in the science that can be applied safely in care provisions as well as in prevention measures towards a healthy society. These then form bases from which nurses can offer care to society. Another importance of nursing research to nursing science is its primary role in knowledge development in the field. Defined as an approach to answering questions, nursing research is a source of knowledge through its investigative role that bridges the information gap. Knowledge development also leads to solutions to problems that face the science of nursing. Its identification of existing problems, exploration of factors to the problems, and tests on possible alternatives helps in the identification of the most suitable solution to a nursing problem (Polit and Beck, 2008).

Strategies for building the science of nursing or nursing knowledge

There exist many ways in which nursing knowledge can be developed. Nursing research that develops new information in science is the most significant. It identifies knowledge gaps from preliminary research and explores topics to generate missing pieces of information. The scientific approach involves defined methodologies and designs for research implementation and collected data are analyzed into conclusions. Traditional practices that are transferred across generations of nursing professionals are another way in which nursing knowledge can be built. It ensures that new generations of professionals in the field are informed of ancient practices that are passed through observations and written materials. It also bridges knowledge gaps that would otherwise widen with time. Other ways in which the nursing knowledge can be developed include “intuition and tactic knowledge” and an individual’s experiences (Moule and Goodman, 2009, p. 19).

Implementation of the research role in nursing practice

One of the possible implementations of the research role in nursing practice is in evidence-based practice that applies developed findings to make decisions in similar circumstances. In responding to a communicable disease outbreak, for example, I would review established causes of the disease in a previous set up and research-based suggested, or applied, approaches to managing the outbreak in the setup. These would establish grounds for solving the current problem (Moule and Goodman, 2009).

Conclusion

Nursing research is an important aspect of nursing science as a knowledge source. The wider scope of knowledge development in science includes tradition, professional experience, and personal intuition. Evidence-based practice is one of the possible implementations of a research role in nursing.