Research and quality improvement experience and knowledge: a nursing survey

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Quality Improvement (QI)
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• Nursing staff engagement in research and quality improvement (QI) is encouraged but their experiences are not well understood.
• Limited data exists on the research and QI background of nursing staff within the corporation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the background and experience of nursing staff in research and quality improvement (QI).
• To compare research and QI experience between nurses at an academic medical center and non-academic facilities.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was administered to nursing staff.
• Comparative analysis was performed between nursing staff from an academic/teaching medical center and intra-corporation non-academic facilities.

Main Results:

• Respondents from the academic medical center reported higher prior and current engagement in research and QI compared to non-academic facility staff.
• Productivity in research (grants, publications, presentations) was low across both groups, but significantly lower in the non-academic group.
• Time constraints were the primary barrier identified by nurses for participation in research and QI initiatives, with academic center nurses utilizing resources more frequently.

Conclusions:

• A moderate level of research and QI experience exists among nursing staff, but overall productivity and resource utilization remain low.
• Nurses in non-academic settings appear to need more support and resources to foster research and QI involvement.
• Establishing infrastructure to support nursing research and providing protected time are crucial for increasing nurse productivity and informing resource allocation.