This course introduces the undergraduate nursing student to the research process. The student will acquire skills necessary to read, interpret, evaluate, and critically analyze nursing research studies in view of their use in nursing practice. The primary focus of the course is the study of methods used in nursing research. The course begins with an introduction to the philosophy of scientific inquiry and how nursing has progressed in developing its own body of knowledge. The use of theory in research is discussed to show how the testing of theory advances science.
Students learn to analyze and evaluate each phase of the research process.
They critically read selected studies appearing in the current nursing research journals. The critical evaluation and use of nursing research findings in practice is seen as a major part of the professional role and is emphasized in this course. Read, interpret, and evaluates research for applicability to nursing practice. Define research concepts and terms. Identify the stages of the research process.