Who says nurses can't be scholars?

Specialties NP

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.

So perhaps this is a bit of a diatribe, but I really do believe nurses can be just as scholarly as any other profession. And to be quite honest, I am very tired of hearing nurses talk about how there is no need to further their education or at the bare minimum keep up-to-date on CEUs or the latest journal articles because it 'just doesn't have anything to do with being a nurse or being xyz,' or quite frankly any number of other statements or attitudes that put down or otherwise discredit the need to engage in academic or scholarly pursuits.

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a professional discharging one of my patients, and going over the instructions and hear them give ludicrous explanations about medications, diagnoses etc. only to think to myself "where did you get that hogwash from?"

I have really been trying to instill in my students and new NP graduates that follow me a love of learning, to never be stagnant in their clinical practice, and to always look for the answers to questions they develop throughout the day (not that I have 100 years of clinical practice, but I digress). I really do believe that this is the best way to practice as a nurse, whether advanced practice or at the RN level. I tell my students that as an RN you should never do things just because they are ordered. If there are no reasons not to perform an order, fine, do it, but take the time to find out why things are done the way they are, listen to the doctors on rounds, read physician notes, multidisciplinary notes, go the extra mile.

For my advanced practice colleagues, puh-lease let's not be satisfied with the status quo. Sign up for conferences. Go to lectures. Go to skills courses. Author journal articles. Get that next degree. Let's step up our science background and take extra courses and represent the very best that nursing has to offer.

I do worry sometimes about the quality of our graduates from APRN programs. As for me, I am going to try to be the best role model I can. I have just completed my DNP degree , and I have just been accepted to a Neuroscience Ph.D. program here locally at a renowned university.

I signed up as someone willing to be a preceptor in the national databank of whatever with the ANCC for NP students, but have yet get any requests, but I love to take on students as teaching is one of my main passions, so if anyone here needs a preceptor and serious about their stuff, I'm willing. I'm in the Philadelphia area.

I guess I write this long post just because I grow tired of seeing so many members of my profession who are OK with lackluster. I feel that this is not something seen in other professions to this degree. I suppose I could be wrong.

The grass on the other side of the fence very well could be brown instead of the plush green I sometimes see. Just my two cents.

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THey can be but for science related scholarly things nursing education itself without some personal on-our-own-time study, isnt enough. People have to at least understand some biochem and physiology to be able to do meaningful research

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Hi OP. I am not a Nurse Practitioner, but I can speak as a patient.

A few years back I was supposed to have an exploratory laparoscopy (for a mass which turned out to be a harmless tiny fibroid in the MRI, weeks later).

My surgeon never showed up. I was prepped, antiemetics in, ready to be rolled up. 2 nurses came and held my hand: we are so sorry, your doctor goofed up, he is at airport, flying off to a vacation spot.

I was speechless, as you can imagine. My bf was upset... I hadn't eaten in over 12 hours, other prep measures in as adviced.

I personally feel like less and less ppl qho actually care for helping others, are entering medical field. I hope I wrong.

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Specializes in Clinical Research, Outpt Women's Health.

Hmmm. I have had an ADN for 23 years and no interest in further education. However, I worked hard for a specialty certification and voraciously pursue best practices in my area of practice. Just have no interest in a further degree or formal education. There are many other avenues to elevate your knowledge and practice. Way cheaper too.

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.
Hmmm. I have had an ADN for 23 years and no interest in further education. However, I worked hard for a specialty certification and voraciously pursue best practices in my area of practice. Just have no interest in a further degree or formal education. There are many other avenues to elevate your knowledge and practice. Way cheaper too.

good point

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Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
I signed up as someone willing to be a preceptor in the national databank of whatever with the ANCC for NP students, but have yet get any requests, but I love to take on students as teaching is one of my main passions, so if anyone here needs a preceptor and serious about their stuff, I'm willing. I'm in the Philadelphia area.

First of all, thank you so much for being a preceptor! It is one of the most vital components to a new graduate's success.

As for you comment about being scholarly, I completely agree with you. I work with nurse scientists who bring such knowledge and experience to the field of nursing it is a pleasure to work with them. But CrunchRN is right to a certain point too. ADN's can be scholarly by elevating their own knowledge, but a true scholar, as you know is someone with a PhD.

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Specializes in cardiac, ICU, education.
People have to at least understand some biochem and physiology to be able to do meaningful research

Again, biochem and physiology is given in undergrad but has no bearing on scholarly work. You have made it sound on more than one thread that you have quite the disdain for nursing education, but since you are not a nurse, I am not sure where you are getting your information from. A few people's lived experience is different than a profession that has proven outcomes.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

Not all scholarly research is clinical. But I agree, advanced degrees are not really an indication of scholarship. During my 30 years as an AAS prepared RN, I read voraciously in my specialty, participated in research and the like.

And while I have pursued research as part of my advanced degrees- I would have done so outside the academic arena.

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Specializes in Vascular Neurology and Neurocritical Care.

Some good points have been made here. I guess I do not necessarily equate advanced degrees with being scholarly, and I do apologize if my post sounds like I look down on those with lesser education, because that certainly is not the case. It is true that there is more than one way to pursue excellence without the addition of another degree, it's just that the point I was trying to make was to never be stagnant in our practices, yet this is something that unfortunately is all too common.

I have had conversations with a couple nurses in our Neuro ICU who are veteran nurses of many years but have shamefully minimal knowledge of some relatively basic neurological topics. I just want to push the profession forward into maturity.

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Again, biochem and physiology is given in undergrad but has no bearing on scholarly work. You have made it sound on more than one thread that you have quite the disdain for nursing education, but since you are not a nurse, I am not sure where you are getting your information from. A few people's lived experience is different than a profession that has proven outcomes.

I am a nurse adn I dont think most nursing programs require biochem or a true physiology course. Combined A and P is not real physiology. How do they have no bearing if they are the basis of all the physiological processes in the body?

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

I want you to be my preceptor. I am in Texas, but have a comfortable couch for you.

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Specializes in Palliative, Onc, Med-Surg, Home Hospice.
I am a nurse adn I dont think most nursing programs require biochem or a true physiology course. Combined A and P is not real physiology. How do they have no bearing if they are the basis of all the physiological processes in the body?

Not all research is about physiological processes. Patient education, patient care, improvement on delivery of care are also research topics.

I do have to ask: Are you an ADN, NP or med student?

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