This paper examines the value of research to the nursing profession, emphasizing its role in establishing evidence-based practice and advancing theoretical frameworks. It outlines the characteristics of sound nursing research — including empirical grounding, logical structure, and replicability — and describes the three levels of quantitative nursing research: descriptive, correlational, and experimental. The paper also highlights the contributions of key nursing theorist Dorothea Orem, whose General Theory of Nursing comprises the Self-Care Theory, Self-Care Deficit Theory, and Nursing Systems Theory. Together, these frameworks help nurses understand patient needs, design care systems, and guide clinical decision-making.
Every nursing practice theory should be at a level where it can be tested empirically. Today, nurses are expected to work within evidence-based practice (EBP). The nursing literature consists of three different kinds, each with its own uses. The first kind comprises summary books that present a variety of theories. The second includes books or articles that present a particular theory. The third consists of research articles that are grounded in theory, contain references, and offer brief interpretations of related theories.
Nursing is somewhat different from most health-care professions in that it is theory-based. Our first nursing theorist was Florence Nightingale, who used theory to explain what is and is not nursing — a tradition that continues in nursing to this day (Medical Library Group of Southern California and Arizona, 2010). This essay examines the value of nursing research, its key perspectives, and highlights a foundational nursing theory.
There are specific characteristics of problems that merit research by nurses. These characteristics include the gathering of both existing and new data from relevant sources. Research is directed toward finding the right solution to a specific problem. Nursing research is analytical, with procedures that are carefully designed to collect data. Nursing research emphasizes the development of principles, generalizations, and theories that will be useful in the future. Nursing research must also be empirical — that is, based on the demands and direct experience of accurate observation. For results to be meaningful, it is essential that reliable and validated outcome measures are used (Getliffe, 1998).
Nursing research also requires innovative approaches. It must be reported and recorded carefully. A nurse researcher achieves comprehensive and valid findings through the replication of studies. The research must be logical and applicable to any possible test for validation. The researcher must be adequately prepared to undertake the behaviors that research requires, as it demands expertise. A nurse researcher should possess intellectual curiosity, creative and critical thinking, intellectual honesty, discipline, patience, and the ability to relate a particular study to an established theory.
Quantitative nursing research has three levels: descriptive, correlational, and experimental. Experimental research provides the framework for establishing a relationship between cause and effect (Roe, 1994). Descriptive research, on the other hand, provides an account of the characteristics of individuals, groups, or situations (Jack & Clarke, 1998). Correlational research examines the relationships between variables without manipulating them. Nurses are encouraged to consider the merits of each research design carefully and to present evidence-based findings that can inform and guide future research.
"Orem's three sub-theories and five nursing methods"
Nurse researchers are continuing to expand and elaborate on Orem's General Theory of Nursing. Research published by nurses around the world — including studies on topics such as breastfeeding trends — is helping to raise awareness and improve patient care outcomes. The integration of sound research methods with established nursing theory remains essential to advancing the profession and delivering effective, evidence-based care.
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