Historical Developments in Nursing Research

Historical Developments in Nursing Research

Tara Skeates

University of Phoenix

Issues and Strategies in Nursing Research Utilization

BSN0499-NUR429

Dr. Mirella Brooks

September 31, 2006

Historical Developments in Nursing Research

Nursing as a profession has been witness to numerous changes. From the environments within which care is given to patients, to the type of dress that nurses wear, many obstacles have been met and overcome up to the present day. Research within the profession of nursing is one aspect that has observed numerous changes as it has developed. This paper will discuss and highlight significant events within the history of nursing research to describe how research evolved as an entity as well as how the utilization of research has impacted the health care delivery system and care provided to patients.

In 1850, at the beginning of the Crimean War, Florence Nightingale, who is known as the first nurse researcher, began to collect statistical information and epidemiological data in order to change the methods in which care was given to military personnel. Improvements were made to the environments in which they were attended, which had a profound impact on decreasing the mortality from wounds received while in battle.

Throughout the 1920's to 1940's nursing research primarily focused on nursing education and the impact that varying levels of teaching would have to the profession. In the 1950's research was focused on the role of nurses in the health care system.

Due to an increasing amount of interest, Nursing Research, a journal which "covers key issues, including health promotion, human responses to illness, acute care nursing research, symptom management, cost-effectiveness, vulnerable populations, health services, and community-based nursing studies" (Nursing Research, 2006), was first published in 1952.

In 1955 the American Nurses Foundation (ANF), an affiliate of the American Nurses Association (ANA), rewarded the first grant for nursing research. "The mission of the Foundation is to promote the health of the public and advance the nursing profession." (American Nurses Foundation [ANF], 2006) Each year a competition is held to assist beginning and experienced nurse researchers with funding for their studies. More than 950 recipients have received over $3.5 million dollars since 1955. (ANF, 2006) The utilization of the findings from these studies has had a profound impact on countless patients, hospital administrators and consumers.

The ANA takes the position that "all nurses share a commitment to the advancement of nursing science and the ethical conduct of nursing science." (American Nurses Association [ANA], 2006) Regardless of the education level of an individual nurse, the involvement in identification of research needs, collection of and access to data, and all nurses can implement utilizing the results of the findings. In 1970 the ANA established the Commission on Nursing Research.

1985 saw the birth of the National Center for Nursing Research within the National Institute of Health. The center was renamed the National Institute of Nursing Research in 1993. The institute "supports basic and clinical research to establish a scientific basis for the care of individuals across the life span-from the management of patients during illness and recover to the reduction of risks for disease and disability to the promotion of health lifestyles." (National Institute of Nursing Research [NINR], 2006) The utilization of the research conducted with grants from the NINR provides many different disciplines within medicine the information needed to