The history of nursing research begins with Florence Nightingale. In
fact, it is nursing research that governs and determines the elements
of the nursing practice in general. Great care, detail, and educational
study comprises nursing research. When a nurse makes a medical
decision, it is believed that he or she will make judgments that are
supported by and characteristic of the current trends in nursing
research. If a nurse does not act in harmony with nursing research, he
or she may be held liable of medical neglect. Therefore, it is
imperative that all who are in the nursing profession stay current with
the latest developments in nursing education as well as research.
There
are two main areas of research that are applicable to the nursing
profession. These include Quantative and Qualitive Research. Quantative
research focuses on results in nursing that is measurably by the use of
testing controlled trial settings, and visible statistics. Quantative
basically means that something may be measured, and when describing
research, Quantative refers to results that may be measured.
Qualitive
Research focuses on the quality of the result or approach as
experienced by the patient. Where you can understand Quantative
research as being the facts, or the what, where, and when of the facts
used in research, Qualitive research refers to the “who” and “why”
questions. For example, “Who did this method work for, and why was the
method or treatment effective?”
Medicine has evolved through
a number of theories over the centuries, and the field of nursing is no
different. Before a practice can be accepted as being effective
medicine, it must be carefully researched, tested, and the results
measured. This research begins with the use of the Scientific Method
and culminates in case studies, clinical trials, and using measurable
standards to determine the results.