[Better patient care through nursing research (1)].

Abstract

NURSING RESEARCH may be thought to be a systematic, detailed attempt to discover or confirm the facts that relate to a specific problem or problems. It has as its goal the provision of scientific knowledge. Many medical and nursing leaders believe that there is a 30-yr gap between existing knowledge directly affecting nursing and its application. This gap exists in both nursing education and nursing service. Much research is needed to test this knowledge to see if it is still valid in light of emerging concepts affecting patient care. Let us examine seven of these concepts and view them in terms of needed research that should be undertaken or subjected further to scientific inquiry. Attention should be given to these emerging concepts lest nursing fail to find a justifiable role among the health professions. 1. The patient as a person No single concept has greater significance for nursing research than that of viewing the patient as a person. The contributions of the social sciences challenge our ritualistic preoccupation with the prescribed physical care of the patient. As the professional student nurse becomes more proficient in the technical skills, she builds an ever increasing gap between herself and her patient. As a result, she is less able to identifjr the patient’s total needs as a senior as compared to her ability to do this as a freshman.(l) Research is needed to find the facts as to why this change occurs. Some medical personnel predict that eventually nursing personnel will be largely replaced by electronic computers. The need for precise measurements on patient care is certainly a goal toward which to strive. The addition of electronic equip ment in operating rooms, recovery rooms, and intensive care units should free the nurse of routine observations, but her skill and judgement will still be required to *Based on excerpts from the forthcoming book by the authors, Be&r Patient-Care through .hbsing Research, to be published by the Macmillan Company, New York, 1965.