“Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.” – Marie Curie 

Welcome to Chapter 1: The Role of Research in Nursing

Welcome! Whether you’re excited about research or wondering why you need to learn it, this chapter is designed to help you see that research is already part of nursing. Every time a nurse asks, “Is there a better way to care for this patient?” they are thinking like a researcher.

Throughout this chapter, we’ll begin by exploring why research is essential to nursing practice and how it has shaped the profession over time. You’ll learn about the history of nursing research and the pioneers whose work continues to influence healthcare today. We’ll examine the many roles nurses play in research, as consumers of evidence, generators of clinical questions, investigators, and advocates for ethical practice. You’ll also be introduced to common research designs, the purpose of nursing research, the research process, and where meaningful research ideas come from. Finally, we’ll look at current trends in nursing research and how emerging issues continue to shape the future of healthcare.

As you work through the chapter, you’ll notice that learning happens in a variety of ways. Alongside the core content, you’ll find real-world nursing scenarios, learning activities, videos, reflection questions, knowledge checks, and my Dr. Fehr Tips, short pieces of advice drawn from practice, teaching, and research that I hope will encourage you to think critically and connect the material to your own experiences. Rather than trying to memorize everything, I encourage you to stay curious, ask questions, and think about how each concept applies to the patients, families, and communities you will one day care for.

My hope is that by the end of this chapter, you’ll begin to see research not as something reserved for scientists in laboratories, but as an essential part of everyday nursing practice. Research helps us ask better questions, challenge outdated practices, improve patient outcomes, and continue growing as professionals. Most importantly, I hope this chapter sparks your curiosity, because curiosity is where great nursing begins.

Key Terms You’ll Use Throughout This Textbook

Research has its own language, and you’ll encounter these terms repeatedly throughout this textbook. You don’t need to memorize every definition right away. Instead, use this section as a reference as you build your understanding of nursing research. As you move through each chapter, these concepts will become more familiar and help you think like a nurse researcher.

Knowledge: Information, understanding, and insights gained through experience, education, observation, or research. In nursing, knowledge is continually refined as new evidence becomes available.

Evidence: Information used to support healthcare decisions. In nursing, evidence includes the best available research, clinical expertise, patient preferences and values, local context, and quality improvement data.

Inquiry: A process of asking thoughtful questions, seeking information, and critically exploring a topic to gain a deeper understanding. Inquiry is the foundation of nursing research and lifelong learning.

Scientific Method: A systematic process used to answer questions and generate new knowledge. It typically involves identifying a problem, reviewing existing evidence, developing a research question, collecting and analyzing data, drawing conclusions, and sharing findings.

Research Question: A clear, focused question that guides a research study by identifying what the researcher wants to understand, describe, explain, or test.

Variable: A characteristic, behaviour, or factor that can be measured or observed and may change between individuals or over time. Variables are commonly examined in quantitative research to explore relationships or differences.

Population: The entire group of individuals, organizations, or events that a researcher is interested in studying and to whom the findings may apply.

Sample: A smaller group selected from the population who participate in a research study. Researchers use samples to draw conclusions about the larger population.

Ethics: The moral principles and professional standards that guide responsible research. Research ethics protect the rights, dignity, safety, privacy, and well-being of participants while ensuring that studies are conducted honestly and fairly.

Key Research Terms Specifically in Chapter 1 Regarding Foundational Research Vocabulary

Research: A systematic process of asking questions and generating new knowledge using scientific methods.

Evidence-based Practice (EBP): The integration of the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide healthcare decisions.

Evidence-informed Practice (EIP): An approach that uses the best available evidence alongside clinical judgment, patient values, local context, and available resources to make decisions.

Quality Improvement (QI): A systematic process used to improve healthcare processes, patient outcomes, and the quality of care within an organization.

Data: Pieces of information collected during research, such as measurements, observations, survey responses, or interview transcripts, that are analyzed to answer a research question.

Critical Appraisal: The systematic evaluation of research evidence to determine its quality, trustworthiness, relevance, and applicability to practice.

Dissemination: Sharing research findings with others through presentations, reports, publications, conferences, or other forms of knowledge exchange.