Nursing Education Significance Research

Research helps patients to avert bedsores and quit smoking; these are some of advantageous nursing care. A nurse researcher from Medical College of Georgia proves that research is an important feature of undergraduate nursing education, and other health care career. Dr. Martha Tingen, nurse researcher at the MCG Georgia Prevention Institute said that due to nurse’s unique awareness in research, they are now capable to promote a healthy life style and how to avoid diseases rather than on how to treat diseases.

According to Dr. Tingen, majority of the population of undergraduate nursing students dream of having positions in hospitals and clinics to offer direct patient care which made them neglect an occupation in research.  In the Nursing curriculum, research courses are inadequate because it is not the usual duty of an entry-level nurse. One three-hour nursing research course is being required by most of the nursing schools like MCG. Dr. Tingen also believed that the value of research in an undergraduate education should not be overstated. Additional nurses and health care providers are necessary to relieve the health problem and nurse shortage of the state. On the contrary, nurses who are dedicated to research are also needed. According to School of Nursing Dean Lucy Marion, nurse researchers are essential to acquire the body of knowledge to be able to educate new nurse clinicians and to progress the worth and effectiveness of care. By this means, nurses will learn to handle a patient’s case by a cautious investigation. Dr. Tingen helped the two MCG undergraduate nursing students to enrol in a funded study of National Institute of Health. In 2006, Anna Burnett and Rachel Murchison got a part time job and worked with Dr. Tingen. They conducted investigation on the relations on gene-environment associated with inert smoke experience and the risk of cardiovascular disease on teenagers with history of the disease on their family.

A six-week orientation was undergone by Ms. Burnett and Ms. Murchison. It includes Institutional Review Board which involves learning and a computer-based genetics course. In a few months, the two students have managed laboratory work by performing genotyping, entering data, re-examining related literature and helping Dr. Tingen to check and analyze data. They gave their support with conceptual compliance, poster presentations, and extensive knowledge to the subject of their research experience. Presently, Ms. Murchison is a nurse in MCGHealth's Shock-Trauma Unit. For her, it was an experience of self-discovery. Because of her strength, she overcomes her weaknesses to be able to modify a process’ part that made her effective. Ms. Burnett, now a nurse in Children's Healthcare of Atlanta's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit said that with the aid of a research, nurses may integrate the result of the study to have a daily evidence-based practice at the bedside. Ms. Burnett believes that statistical research can give us enhanced integrity and legality in medical practice. As an example, preventing bedsores need evidence-based guidelines. To determine how patients can minimize pressure on vulnerable parts of the body, interdisciplinary research can help nurses. Ms. Burnett and Ms. Murchison have plans to pursue their nursing education and they both consider being nurse researchers. The two-week opportunity that made the 2 students involved in a research study is a dream come true for Dr. Tingen. The study will enlighten someone's awareness in becoming a researcher. [via]