Engaging Undergraduate Nursing Students in Collaborative Research.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Research Methodology

Background:

• Baccalaureate nursing students often find research courses unengaging and lack confidence in research skills.
• Nurses require a solid understanding of the research process for evidence-based practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of experiential research projects on nursing students' attitudes, knowledge, and skills.
• To assess the effectiveness of active learning in nursing research education.

Main Methods:

• Nursing students participated in an experiential, active learning research project focused on pet interaction.
• Faculty provided mentorship, immersing students in all facets of the research process.

Main Results:

• Student participation significantly enhanced research understanding, clinical skills, and communication abilities.
• Students reported increased professional growth and presented their findings at a university research event.

Conclusions:

• Collaborative faculty-student research fosters interest in evidence-based practice and supports professional development.
• These projects build student confidence in research roles and strengthen connections within the university community.