[Meanings and factors that influence nursing research at the Walter Cantídio University Hospital]

This study analyzed the meanings and factors that may interfere in Nursing research in the point of view of assistant nurses working in a public University Hospital in the city of Fortaleza, State of Ceará. A quantitative-qualitative survey was carried out with 22 nurses between March 4 and April 30, 2005. The findings pointed out that nurses value the importance of research for enriching their profession. However, although research produces knowledge and solves problems that occur in their daily activities, it demands heavy investment from professionals who are overburdened with work in an environment lacking human, physical and material conditions and often have inadequate academic formation, which points out to the need for improving research skills in Nursing courses. In conclusion, nurses consider research rewarding professionally and for self-development, but it depends exclusively on the individuals' effort and thus become a painstaking, unmotivating activity that requires an organizational policy to be enhanced.