Hospital-Based Nursing Research: Clinical and Economic Outcomes

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Research
• Health Economics

Background:

• Nursing research conducted within hospital settings is crucial for advancing clinical practice and improving patient care.
• Understanding the tangible clinical and economic outcomes of this research is essential for demonstrating its value and impact.
• Magnet® recognized hospitals are often at the forefront of implementing innovative nursing research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical and economic outcomes of nursing research conducted in hospital settings.
• To assess the extent to which findings from hospital-based nursing research are implemented in practice.
• To identify the perceived impacts of nursing research on quality measures, patient satisfaction, and hospital costs.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed, utilizing the online Hospital-Based Nursing Research Clinical and Economic Outcomes survey.
• 181 nursing research leaders from Magnet® hospitals participated in the survey.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data from open-ended responses were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive approach.

Main Results:

• A high percentage of respondents reported implementation of study findings (88.2%) and improvements in healthcare processes (88.2%).
• Significant positive impacts were observed on patient/family satisfaction (76.8%), nurse satisfaction (65%), length of stay (59.1%), and infection rates (56.5%).
• A majority of respondents (79%) reported that their hospital-based studies reduced hospital costs, with research often focusing on quality measures.

Conclusions:

• Hospital-based nursing research demonstrably leads to improved clinical and economic outcomes.
• Implementation of nursing research findings is high in Magnet® hospitals, positively affecting care delivery and quality metrics.
• Nursing research provides both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards, contributing to enhanced patient care and operational efficiency.