Invisible nursing research: thoughts about mixed methods research and nursing practice

Area of Science:

• Nursing Science
• Research Methodology

Background:

• The relationship between nursing research and practice is often seen as parallel.
• Understanding this connection can illuminate the research embedded within clinical actions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the concept of nursing practice as a form of "invisible mixed methods research."
• To highlight the integration of qualitative and quantitative data in routine nursing care.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of the nursing process.
• Application of mixed methods research principles to clinical encounters.

Main Results:

• Nursing practice inherently involves collecting and integrating qualitative (e.g., patient narratives) and quantitative (e.g., vital signs) data.
• Each nurse-patient interaction can be conceptualized as a single-case mixed methods study.

Conclusions:

• Nursing practice is a dynamic application of mixed methods research.
• Recognizing practice as research can enhance professional identity and research utilization.