Article

Professional Nurses Value Research
Jenenne P. Nelson, PhD, CNS, RN
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

As a faculty member who teaches research to undergraduate and graduate students, I often hear students “moan” on the first day of the semester when I ask, “Who loves research?” Maybe one or two students raise their hand sheepishly, but, usually, everyone gasps at the thought of “loving research.” Mostly, students laugh and comment that they “dread” having to take the class and express personal fear and panic about the class. I also usually hear a few students comment under their breath that once the class is over, they hope to never use it again!

After teaching research for a few years, I started asking students if they wanted to be a professional nurse. Many thought they were becoming professional nurses, but many never thought that one of the hallmarks of professionalism included the use of research in their practice. My job was then to convince them that to be truly professional, they must use and try to understand research!

One of the first objectives in class is to have students recognize the importance of research to developing nursing knowledge and supporting evidence-based practice. Nursing must develop its own unique body of knowledge as well as provide care that is supported by research. New nursing students sometimes are confused in describing what profession they are pursuing, often saying that they are studying medicine. This is confusing for them and the public. Even graduate students often stumble when they are asked to define nursing. Often, the only things they can offer in their definition of nursing are the tasks associated with their practice. Newman, Sime, and Corcoran-Perry (1991) succinctly defined nursing as caring for others (e.g., patients, family) in the human health experience. This is a simple definition, clearly describing the boundaries of nursing and directing the focus of nursing research. Research in nursing should relate to the definition boundaries of nursing so that nurses can use research-based care in practice.

So what does this have to do with oncology nursing? Oncology nurses must use research-based knowledge in the provision of care and support the development of specialized knowledge areas related to cancer nursing care. ONS has been on the forefront of recognizing the need for a research-based practice and specialized nursing knowledge in cancer care by funding nurses to conduct research. Professional oncology nurses are not necessarily nurses with the most credentials behind their names but rather are the ones who use research to guide practice and who support the development of knowledge in oncology nursing. These are the professionals who will move oncology nursing forward using research-based practice and will develop a body of knowledge in cancer nursing that will impact care, shape policy, and improve cancer care overall.

In summary, the bottom line in nursing and oncology nursing is that we need professionals who value research and do not forget that research is important to professional practice. What will you answer when a faculty member asks you if you “love research”?

Reference
Newman, M.A., Sime, A.M., & Corcorcan-Perry, S.A. (1991). The focus of the discipline of nursing. Advances of Nursing Science, 14(1), 1–6.