Dissemination and use of research findings in nursing practice

This study built on two previous studies (Brett, 1987; Coyle & Sokop, 1990) that found no significant relationships between use of nursing research and nursing education level. These two studies had fewer than 5 per cent of their subjects with master's degrees in nursing. The new population studied had 49 per cent master's prepared nurses, which provided the necessary foundation to expand the examination of the relationship of higher education and use of research findings among nurses. Whereas the overall extent of dissemination and use of research findings among nurses in the sample was similar to that of the two previous studies, it was found that nurses with a master's degree reported higher utilization than those with a bachelor's degree. This finding suggests a unique and critical role for the master's-prepared nurse in the dissemination and use of research findings in the practice setting.