NOOO!!!! Advanced Nursing RESEARCH!?!?!?!?

lalaxton · Oct 31, 2008

Yup! I don't think you'll find a program without it. It's one of the core compentencies of an NP.

VivaRN · Oct 31, 2008

Absolutely. It's on the board exam. And it is important for NP's to understand the research behind guidelines, drugs and everything else that we do.

allnurses Guide · Oct 31, 2008

Of course. How else are you going to critically read the literature to determine the evidence underpinning your treatments?

UVA Grad Nursing · Nov 1, 2008

It is standard for graduate programs in general. I've seen a Research course in every MSN program I've examined in the US.

Blessedx3 · Nov 1, 2008

At USA-we have 2 to 3 Research Based Writing Courses. I know--I'd rather take Patho than take a writing course. My undergrad degree the first go round was in Statistics---but I do not like research!! Ha...we do what we have to do!

JDCitizen · Nov 1, 2008

We all will have to get ready for a jack up when all the programs switch to DNP and PhD....

As for my boards all the questions were about medications, treatment options kind of things. Unless this was a back door way for me to have to have known that research came up with the drugs and treatment options I don't recall any research questions.

Like statistics; research is something we just have to swallow and muddle through.

allnurses Guide · Nov 1, 2008

I've been suffering through Health Care Research (undergrad), hoping I will make it through the end of the semester when I can be home-free.
FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST!...
I was looking through courses in a FNP program and my heart plunged to my feet when I saw Advanced Nursing Research.
WHAT????
Is this standard for NP programs?

What is your basic qualification Golytely, the reason I ask is that depending on the level you have already studied at you will have had quite a bit of preparation for studing at advanced level it will be a natural progression.

Jo Dirt · Nov 1, 2008

Of course. How else are you going to critically read the literature to determine the evidence underpinning your treatments?

By reading it. I don't need a class on how to read and understand an article.

I believe forcing research classes on people who are not going to work as a researcher is just another way to scarf money for schools and give professors in that field a job.

It does nothing to add prestiege to the nursing profession, just looks like a bunch of busy work.

allnurses Guide · Nov 1, 2008

By reading it. I don't need a class on how to read and understand an article.
I believe forcing research classes on people who are not going to work as a researcher is just another way to scarf money for schools and give professors in that field a job.
It does nothing to add prestiege to the nursing profession, just looks like a bunch of busy work.

I have to be honest I would disagree with you on that, it's not just about reading the article it's about being able to critially analyse and assess the value of the work, is it well evidenced, is the methodology sound and what are the limitations. The research classes are to give a good grounding and knowledge about the evidence we use in practice. As advanced practitioners we should be looking at areas that we should be progressing practice and undertaking studies to facilitate that.

Personally I think the research aspect of these prgrams are essential to developing a well rounded evidence based practitioner.

VivaRN · Nov 1, 2008

As for my boards all the questions were about medications, treatment options kind of things. Unless this was a back door way for me to have to have known that research came up with the drugs and treatment options I don't recall any research questions.

I took boards recently (ANCC), and got questions on different study designs and methodologies as well as epi terms. Maybe it's a newer thing. Either way it's a competency.

allnurses Guide · Nov 1, 2008

By reading it. I don't need a class on how to read and understand an article.
I believe forcing research classes on people who are not going to work as a researcher is just another way to scarf money for schools and give professors in that field a job.
It does nothing to add prestiege to the nursing profession, just looks like a bunch of busy work.

I could not disagree with you more vehemently. It is very naive to say you'll understand literature by "reading" it. HOW are you going to read it critically if you haven't been taught? You can't just read an abstract and take the researcher's conclusions as truth. It's meaningless to read research articles unless you have been trained to evaluate the quality of the research aims, methodology, results and the authors' interpretation of such. I can't believe you've reached the end of a bachelor degree without understanding that.

Like it or not, evidence-based medicine is here to stay (and for very good reason!). Those who refuse to accept it are doomed to be the ones giving as rationale for their actions the old "we do it like that because that's how we always did it". Nursing - and our patients - deserve better.