Nursing research priorities for Ireland

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Health Services Research
• Priority Setting

Background:

• Identifying nursing research priorities is crucial for advancing evidence-based practice.
• Previous studies have explored nursing research priorities globally, but specific Irish priorities require focused investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and rank clinical, managerial, and educational nursing research priorities in Ireland.
• To establish timeframes for conducting research on identified nursing issues.

Main Methods:

• A three-round, consensus Delphi survey involving 1,695 nurses across Ireland.
• A subsequent discussion group workshop with 122 nurses to determine research timeframes.
• Utilized a large-scale survey, the largest reported in the literature for identifying nursing research priorities.

Main Results:

• Twenty-four distinct nursing research priorities were identified.
• The top five priorities included: outcomes of care delivery, staffing issues, clinical communication, nurse recruitment and retention, and nursing input into health policy.
• Clinical and managerial issues dominated the highest-ranked priorities.

Conclusions:

• Identified nursing research priorities in Ireland show convergence with those in Europe and North America.
• Increased emphasis on care outcomes and nursing visibility in research compared to previous studies.
• Nursing shortages and skill-mix necessitate research into recruitment, retention, staffing levels, and their impact on patient outcomes.