Nurses Furious As Dentist to Lead Nursing Research Institute
The National Institute of Health has appointed a dentist and biologist to head up the largest U.S. nursing research institute. Nurses are furious over the message being sent and the impact on our already undervalued profession. Keep reading to learn more about this controversial decision.
A dentist, Lawrence Tabak, DDS, PhD, has been appointed interim director of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). The dentist previously served as the National Institutes of Health’s principal deputy director. On October 1st, he will assume the helm of the federal research organization, currently held by Ann Cashion, RN. Tara Schwartz PhD, a biologist, will fill the position of deputy director.
Facing backlash from nurses, NIH added a job listing encouraging qualified nurses to apply for the director position the same day Business Insider reported the interim appointment. The job will remain posted until November 18, 2019 and you can check out the details here.
The NINR’s Mission
The NINR is one of the 27 institutes making up the National Institutes of Health. It is also the country’s largest federal nursing research institute. According to their mission statement, NINR “seeks to extend nursing science by integrating the biological and behavioral sciences, employing new technologies to research questions, improving research methods and developing scientists of the future”. The institute’s research encompasses health promotion and disease prevention, quality of life, health disparities and end-of-life.
Failed to Find a Suitable Person?
An NIH representative provided Business Insider the following statement:
Quote
“NIH has every intention of filling the director position of the National Institute of Nursing Research with a highly qualified leader in nursing research. Earlier this year, NIH conducted a nationwide search that unfortunately failed to identify a suitable person to fill this important role.”
Reporting the inability to identify a qualified doctorate prepared leader in nursing research is a difficult pill to swallow for many. According to the September 13th job posting, the NIH is “looking for applicants with a commitment to scientific excellence and the energy, enthusiasm and innovative thinking necessary to lead a dynamic and diverse organization”. The nursing profession has an abundance of nurses that spent years obtaining doctorate degrees and go on to pursue research that would strengthen and support NINR’s mission.
What Message is Being Sent?
Nursing organizations across the country argue that a nurse is more qualified than non-nurses to evaluate grants for nursing research. The appointment of a non-nurse has evoked anger among nurses who fear it damages the public’s perception of the profession. Also, the decision may send the message that qualified nurse researchers aren’t valued as educated science professionals.
Enforcing Negative Stereotypes
The nursing profession is currently plagued by negative stereotypes. This includes the perception of servitude and is reinforced with heavy workloads, poor and stressful working environments and lack of professional gratification. The healthcare environment lacks respect for nurses, often undervaluing their skills and contributions. But, nurses are found in other professional roles, such as administrators, nurse practitioners, educators and researchers. It is worrisome that the appointment of a dentist to lead the NINR reinforces negative stereotypes that are already a burden to the nursing profession.
The Truth About Nursing has created a petition asking the NIH to recall the appointments of both Dr. Tabak and Dr. Swartz. You can access the petition here.
What are your thoughts?
Do you think a nurse should hold the NINR director position?
Why am I not surprised.As long as "nurse "is in your name and job description,it does not matter what alphabet soup initials you have after your name.Means nothing.We still can not say "we have come a long way ,baby."
I think it is ridiculous and unacceptable (even in the interim) to name non-nurses to lead one of the most influential nursing research organizations. But I also think there is a growing danger to nursing research overall. With the explosion of the DNP, especially with the prevalence of programs of dubious quality, we are facing an overwhelming number of nurses in academia and leadership positions who not only cannot do research themselves but don't even understand nursing research. Increasingly, these are going to be the people educating and leading the next generation of nurses and I don't think it bodes well for our profession.
In an administration that has left empty posts and questionably-qualified or unqualified interim personnel in place for years, this isn't surprising. Perhaps, in the new year, there will be an actual permanent person in the Director's chair, and hopefully that person will be a very well-qualified nurse.
Kooky Korky, BSN, RN
5,216 Posts
We have, we just have further to go.