Qualitative research in nephrology nursing

Qualitative research is being used to a great extent in nursing. It offers nurses the opportunity to obtain rich understandings of phenomena of interest. The term, qualitative research, is used to describe a broad range of research methodologies. Each methodology has an underlying set of values, beliefs, and assumptions and offers a particular lens to further understanding the area of interest. Common forms of qualitative research, specifically, ethnography, grounded theory, feminist research, action research, historical research, and qualitative evaluation research are briefly described and examples from the nephrology nursing research literature are provided when available. Methods for critiquing and reviewing qualitative research are suggested.