Anti-Intellectualism in Nursing

[fakenurse]

I went into nursing because I love science and medicine, and thought working with like-minded people to deliver high-quality care sounded like a great job. Since entering the profession, however, I've discovered that there is widespread mistrust and criticism of education and research in nursing. Nurses who are curious and love to ask questions are sneered at, and nurses who pursue further education are labeled "book smart" and lacking the prized "street smarts", which seems to equate to knowing how to start an IV. I've never heard of any other profession where furthering one's education is seen as a bad thing. I'm feeling so disappointed about this attitude, and really disenchanted with nursing. I loved school, I love learning, and I think more education is always, always, always a good thing. Will I always be an outcast in nursing because of this? If we want to be taken seriously as professionals, shouldn't we be embracing theory and knowledge and intellectual curiosity?

[fakenurse]

I think nursing researchers spend a lot of time finding ways to get bedside nurses involved. That's a huge part of the job, actually.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think nursing researchers spend a lot of time finding ways to get bedside nurses involved. That's a huge part of the job, actually.

Do you have evidence of this; are you a nursing researcher?

I don't doubt it; but your post suggests that nursing researchers spend their time chasing nurses down, but the reality is that bedside nurses do research and EBP, pilot studies and present at conferences; there are nurses apply the PI methods as well in the studies.

There seems to be the implication that nursing research is looking at past research and replicating ONLY, when that is not the case.

[fakenurse]

I think I'm not understanding your argument. Are you trying to say that the only effective researchers are clinical research nurses?

[Susie2310]

To the OP, Your practice will be what you make of it. You will have plenty of opportunity in your career, regardless of where you work, to further your education, whether by taking continuing education courses, training at your work place, studying for specialty certifications, taking ACLS, or studying for an advanced degree. I suggest focusing on your own practice. Also, don't dismiss or underestimate the amount of critical thinking involved in correctly performing nursing procedures, such as starting IV's, correctly, using the nursing process. You will meet like-minded nurses, and you will meet nurses whose attitudes you have nothing in common with. Be the best nurse YOU can be, and don't worry about whether other nurses are the way you'd like them to be, or you will always be dissatisfied.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I think I'm not understanding your argument. Are you trying to say that the only effective researchers are clinical research nurses?

I have already stated my opinion: my point is that research is more effective at the bedside and also per my experience and exposure that there are nurses who are doing so at the bedside; there is this misnomer out there that nurses who do research that replicate studies and repeat previous facts-one of those studies are debated on this forum, sometimes as nauseum.

My question was, to you, was whether you were a research nurse...are you one?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

My first take is if a research is not using an application to the research by NOT getting bedside nurses involved, then how is that going to effective advance the profession?

There's that old fallacy that only nursing research that focuses on bedside performance or clinical aspects is "real" nursing research and that any other kind isn't valid or remotely useful. Wrong-o. There's plenty of use for research involving other areas, like nurse practitioners, management, faculty, and non-bedside fields like public policy where nurses work. This research advances the profession too.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

There's that old fallacy that only nursing research that focuses on bedside performance or clinical aspects is "real" nursing research and that any other kind isn't valid or remotely useful. Wrong-o. There's plenty of use for research involving other areas, like nurse practitioners, management, faculty, and non-bedside fields like public policy where nurses work. This research advances the profession too.

My point was more on the flip side fallacy that research doesn't occur at the bedside; especially when there is an opinion that research is being done by "people in ivory towers, and that research is a "fluff" class; when the application of EBP and helps promote rationale thinking; basically solidifying and applying our critical thinking.

My adage is lately when I talk to a few select co-workers: "there is a rationale for everything"...

[mmc51264, BSN, MSN, RN]

There are opportunities to expand learning with out going to school. I volunteered to help with a revision of policy of joint protocols. Whenever I come across a obscure condition, I research it. I work with people that just want to put in their 12 hours and go home. I am one of those that could spend hours in a chart looking at history to see if I can figure stuff out. I am pursuing my RN-BSN and am finding out about policy and politics and advocacy. I was asked at work to represent my unit at a research seminar. If one wants to learn, it does not necessarily have to be a higher degree. There are specialty certifications. I am an ortho nurse and am pursuing my certification there too. I may do CDE after that. There is so much opportunity if you want it. It will make you a better nurse.

[trishmsn]

Some people will always denigrate those with more education or more knowledge (not always the same thing!) to make themselves feel better. Human nature is often not pretty....

That having been said, after having read peer-reviewed research studies in the 1980's and 90's that gave strong credence to interventions such as "therapeutic touch" and "healing through spectrum of light" therapy (AND studied them in and out of undergrad nursing school).........

.....AND noting that these were 100% horsehockey and BUNK....gave nursing research a bit of a black eye. [Laughingstock, in some cases!] This focus on subjective instead of OBJECTIVE studies continues, and tends to put nursing research (vs. medical or physical therapy research) in a dubious light with our health care peers.

[fakenurse]

I don't think it's worthwhile to argue whether qualitative or quantitative research is better; they both have their uses. I would like to point out, though, that my post about anti-intellectualism in nursing has turned into a defense of nursing research. I can't imagine a conversation in any other academic field going the same way, which brings us back around to my original point: nursing is highly suspicious of academia.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I don't think it's worthwhile to argue whether qualitative or quantitative research is better; they both have their uses. I would like to point out, though, that my post about anti-intellectualism in nursing has turned into a defense of nursing research. I can't imagine a conversation in any other academic field going the same way, which brings us back around to my original point: nursing is highly suspicious of academia.

If you were talking about my posts, I wasn't debating you at all; personally I don't engage in debating about any concepts; now, if anything I wanted to post the perspective that nurses are critical thinkers and are important pieces in advancing the profession, and have the necessary tools to do so at the beside; there is a percentage that have a certain disconnect, and even on this forum, if you peruse them, there are posters that think that nurses "only" are pull pushers, think that we perform "menial" tasks that "anyone" can do with the right "training", which is off the mark.

And my question was were you a research nurse, because you could bring a perspective into the discussion, but instead you have taken to "defend" research nursing, when, given the posts, there are some posters who have a perspective that can still be shared in terms of cultivating essential knowledge, and there is nothing wrong with that , that's the nature of forums, they can take on a life of it's own, even though there are plenty of posters, including myself, that stated to the OP that they have to power to hone their own practice, not everyone is going to do so; however as long as best practices are being employed with the patient first, they can do so,but there will be plenty that hone the best practice and help shape future nurses, and that is beneficial for the profession, and for the patients as well.

[movingon2014]

When I first started in hospital nursing -- a while ago -- there were places where it was felt that BSN-grads slowed things down, because they took so long to learn techniques. Down the road though, it balances out. The BSN's catch up, and they can even contribute some of their learning to others. Just like other things in life, it should be about give-and-take type of teamwork.