Why Nursing Research Often Takes a Back Seat

Nursing research is often praised but not always prioritized in hospitals and healthcare settings. This is a problem because it means that nursing knowledge is not always growing and improving as it should.

The Impact of Efficiency Over Research

When hospitals focus too much on getting things done quickly, they might not spend enough time thinking deeply about nursing care. This can make it harder for nurses to share their unique knowledge and ideas. It also weakens the ethical principles that should guide how nursing knowledge is created.

Why Nursing Research Matters

Nursing research is important because it helps nurses provide better care. When nurses do research, they can learn new things about how to help patients. This research can also help nurses make better decisions. But if hospitals do not support nursing research, it can be hard for nurses to do this important work.

Barriers to Nursing Research

Focus on Efficiency

One reason why nursing research is not always supported is because hospitals focus too much on efficiency. Hospitals want to get things done quickly and efficiently. This is important, but it can also mean that they do not spend enough time thinking about how to improve nursing care. When hospitals focus too much on efficiency, they might not give nurses the time and resources they need to do research.

Hospital Structure

Another reason why nursing research is not always supported is because of the way hospitals are structured. Hospitals are often organized in a way that makes it hard for nurses to do research. For example, nurses might not have enough time to do research because they are too busy with their other duties. They might also not have access to the resources they need to do research, such as money or equipment.

Hospital Culture

Finally, the culture of hospitals can also make it hard for nurses to do research. In some hospitals, research is not seen as an important part of nursing. This can make it hard for nurses to get support for their research. It can also make it hard for nurses to share their research with others.