Five Historical Key Developments in Nursing Research & Utilization

Nursing research has been defined as a "systematic inquiry designed to develop trustworthy evidence about issues of importance to the nursing profession, including nursing practice, education, administration, and informatics" according to by Denise F. Polit and Cheryl Tatano Beck in their book "Nursing Research: Generating and Assessing Evidence for Nursing Practice." Today, nurses are engaging in the generation, publication and application of research in practice, for the advancement of client care and enhancement of the nursing field's scientific knowledge base. Thus, through time, the concept of nursing research has matured and by adding to its own development.

The Pioneer of Nursing Research: Florence Nightingale

• As the mother of modern nursing, Florence Nightingale recognized the significance of research in the delivery of nursing care. Her popular works in research includes the state of soldiers during the Crimean War in the 1850s. She discovered the poor conditions the casualties of war experienced. Consequently, the mortality rate rose due to starvation and diseases. Nightingale conducted an investigation and proceeded with collecting, organizing and reporting the data. Her inquiries lead her to the assumption that the environment is crucial to the physical and emotional well-being of a person. Because of her research she was able to contribute to the advancement of nursing practice.

The Education: Research in Nursing Programs

• Nursing was made accessible when the Teacher's College at Columbia first offered a doctoral program for nurses in 1923. In 1929, Yale University offered the first master's degree in nursing. During the 1950s and 1960s, introduction of research was established at the baccalaureate level, and conducting research was done at the MSN-level. Nursing models, theories and conceptual frameworks emerged in the late 1960s to 1970s which contributed to the supervision of prospective research.

The Dissemination: Journals

• As a medium of communication, journals were published in order to convey results and influence others to do their own study. The first U.S. organization to finance a nursing research was Sigma Theta Tau International in 1936. It encourages the conduct, communication and utilization of research in nursing. With the increasing number of studies, the Nursing Research journal was published in 1952. It became a vehicle imparting scholarly productivity. Numerous publications and research funding were made and dedicated to the nursing profession.

The Institution: National Center for Nursing Research

• The NCNR was created in 1985. Today it is called the National Institute of Nursing Research. It is a pillar of clinical and basic research and training. It primarily caters to health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities and end of life.

The Standardization: American Nurses Association

• In 1998 the ANA revised the scope and practice of nursing. They have included research as one of the standards. It states that the nurse should use research findings at work and should be active in research activities. It implies how nursing is connected with research and its application in the day-to-day work experience. Moreover, it functions as a tool for the health professional to discover new and ingenious ways on the how-tos of client care.