Nursing Research - Demystifying the Process

The main ingredients for becoming involved in nursing research are an inquiring mind and interest in looking for ways to improve patient care.  One of the most important roles of a nurse is to begin to identify questions about the best way to understand what is happening to patients, their responses to health care efforts on their behalf, and how to provide care that addresses their needs.  Of all health care providers, nurses have the best opportunity to identify problems and patterns of patient behaviors and to observe patient responses to therapy.  Professional nursing literature can help plan patient care. Often there are gaps in the literature related to specific problems, or there is a feeling that there might be a new or better way to solve patient problems through systematic investigation.

How Do I Become Involved in the Research Process?

Recognizing patterns and problems allows us to ask questions about how care can be changed or improved. Every nurse, regardless of academic background, needs to be able to identify what needs to be changed or what it is that we do not know about those patterns that have been observed. That is the first step in developing a researchable question. The next step is to understand the resources that are available to explore those questions and identify solutions. The prospect of developing a research study may be intimidating if you have not been involved in the process. However, the best research is most often a group effort, and you do not, and should not, expect to carry out research on your own.

The next step in the process is to identify others with whom you can talk about what you have observed or the questions you would like to ask. Look for those who also have an interest in your topic or issue, and those who have been actively involved in developing research, and have the academic credentials to develop a study.  One advantage of working at MGH, a national center of excellence in health care, is the availability of a cadre of nurses through the Munn Center of Nursing Research who are willing and able to help you begin these explorations. Remember that what you have to say is important even if the idea or observation is very non-specific at this point in time. Clinical research questions often arise at the bedside and are key to improving patient care and developing new knowledge for the future of nursing practice.  

Finding Help

The Nursing Research Committee and Doctoral Forum as well as the Clinical Nurse Specialists are available to support you in the research process. Contact the Nursing Research Committee at PCSNursingResearchCommittee@partners.org or visit the web site www.MGHNursingResearchCommittee.org  where you will find a list of resources to support research, as well as a link to members of the Doctoral Forum and Clinical Nurse Specialists who may have expertise in your area of interest.

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