What do registered nurses and midwives feel and know about research?

This research is in the form of a quantitative study aimed at discovering 'What registered nurses and midwives feel and know about research'. Data were gathered on a fixed response questionnaire, with open spaces for comments to support the results with written factual qualitative evidence. The questionnaire was directed towards obtaining results associated with 'Attitudes' towards research; 'Understandings' about research, and 'Obstacles' to implementing research. A sampling technique was used in which a total population of 765 registered nurses and midwives working in this district general hospital were involved in the study. The results demonstrate (inferential statistics chi-square and correlation tests) that registered nurses and midwives are largely in agreement with research based practices, although understanding about research is minimal and dependent on grade, length qualified, shifts and numbers of hours worked.