Nurses' Attitudes, Environmental Perceptions and Involvement in Research: A Multisite Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Research
• Healthcare Management
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Direct care nurses are underrepresented in research despite the promotion of evidence-based practice.
• Understanding nurses' attitudes, perceptions, and involvement in research is crucial for healthcare systems.
• Exploring the impact of racial and ethnic diversity on nursing research engagement is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess nurses' attitudes toward research.
• Evaluate perceptions of the organizational research environment.
• Identify barriers and facilitators to nurse research engagement.
• Examine the role of diversity in research participation.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional electronic survey was distributed to registered nurses in a Northeast U.S. health system.
• The survey assessed research attitudes, environment, involvement, and demographics.
• Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported positive attitudes toward research but low current involvement.
• Lack of protected time, funding, and mentorship were identified as major barriers.
• Significant gaps exist between current and desired research support.
• High uncertainty regarding available research resources was noted.

Conclusions:

• Nurses are motivated to engage in research, including advanced roles.
• Structural and informational barriers hinder active research participation.
• Institutions need to enhance research support visibility, mentorship, and infrastructure.
• Addressing these barriers will empower nurses to lead practice-relevant research.