Integrating nursing research findings into the curriculum: a descriptive study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Curriculum Development
• Research Integration

Background:

• Integrating nursing research findings into educational curricula is crucial for evidence-based practice.
• Varying approaches exist for incorporating research into nursing programs at different academic levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the methods nursing faculty use to integrate research findings into associate, baccalaureate, and master's nursing program curricula.
• To identify differences in the use of course objectives and learning activities related to nursing research among faculty in different program types.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive study surveyed 420 nursing faculty from 105 nursing programs in the NLN's North Atlantic region.
• A mailed survey collected data on course objectives and learning activities used to integrate nursing research findings.
• Chi-square analyses were employed to compare faculty responses across different program levels.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were observed in course objectives and learning activities concerning nursing research findings among faculty.
• Faculty in baccalaureate and/or master's programs utilized these objectives and activities more frequently than those in associate degree programs.
• Despite differences, faculty demonstrated concerted efforts to integrate research findings through diverse strategies.

Conclusions:

• Nursing faculty actively employ various methods to integrate research findings into curricula.
• Baccalaureate and master's level programs show higher utilization of research integration strategies compared to associate degree programs.
• Further research is needed to identify the most effective strategies for nursing research integration in education.