Use of nursing practice research findings

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Research Utilization

Background:

• The Conduct and Utilization of Research in Nursing (CURN) Project established criteria for clinical research application.
• Identifying research findings that meet CURN criteria is crucial for evidence-based practice.
• Understanding nurses' awareness, persuasion, and use of research is key to improving healthcare outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify nursing research findings meeting CURN criteria.
• To assess practicing nurses' awareness, persuasion, and utilization of these findings.
• To examine the relationship between hospital policies and research utilization.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review identified 14 nursing research findings meeting CURN criteria.
• A survey collected data from 216 practicing nurses across hospitals of varying sizes.
• Data analysis focused on nurses' awareness, persuasion, and reported use of the identified research findings.

Main Results:

• The majority of nurses demonstrated awareness of and persuasion regarding the research findings.
• Most nurses reported using the innovations at least sometimes.
• No significant relationship was found between hospital policies and the utilization of research findings.

Conclusions:

• Practicing nurses are generally aware of, persuaded by, and utilize research findings.
• Hospital policies and procedures do not appear to be a significant factor in research utilization.
• Further strategies may be needed to enhance the consistent application of research in nursing practice.