Rosaline A Olade1. 1. College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA. rolade@unmc.edu
Abstract
PROBLEM: The gap between nursing research findings and their application in practice, particularly in rural areas. METHODS: A descriptive-correlational study design focused on the attitude of nurses (N = 106) in rural practice setting towards nursing research and the relationship between their attitudes and other factors. FINDINGS: Fewer than a quarter of the nurses in this study had favorable attitudes toward research. Attitudes and interest varied with levels of education and position. Also, the isolation of rural nurses from nurse researchers creates a peculiar barrier to research utilization. CONCLUSION: The influence of nurse educators/researchers and administrators cannot be overemphasized. Nurse leaders need to perceive nursing research as the base for evidence-based practice, and enhance the utilization of scientific evidence in practice settings.
PROBLEM: The gap between nursing research findings and their application in practice, particularly in rural areas. METHODS: A descriptive-correlational study design focused on the attitude of nurses (N = 106) in rural practice setting towards nursing research and the relationship between their attitudes and other factors. FINDINGS: Fewer than a quarter of the nurses in this study had favorable attitudes toward research. Attitudes and interest varied with levels of education and position. Also, the isolation of rural nurses from nurse researchers creates a peculiar barrier to research utilization. CONCLUSION: The influence of nurse educators/researchers and administrators cannot be overemphasized. Nurse leaders need to perceive nursing research as the base for evidence-based practice, and enhance the utilization of scientific evidence in practice settings.