FACTORS INFLUENCING THE RESEARCH ROLE OF NURSE EDUCATORS.
Contributors: University of Houston.
Published: 1987
Number of pages: 191
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Perhaps, no other profession has evidenced such a major concern for the need to develop a scientific basis for practice than currently exists in nursing. In an era of accountability and cost consciousness, the safe practice of nursing and the quality of nursing services must be based on scientific principles. The American Nurses' Association statement of priorities for the 1980's cited participation in research and the sharing of research findings as a major goal for nursing education and practice. In spite of this, much of the literature published since this report indicated that in most schools of nursing, research was not an integral part of the nurse educators' workload or role.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extent of nurse educators' involvement with research and to identify factors which influence the research role of nurse educators. Research involvement, attitude towards nursing research, and perception of role were the variables used as indicators of having acquired the role of nurse researcher.

Data for the study were collected by means of a mailed questionnaire. The sample consisted of 524 nurse educators teaching in baccalaureate or higher degree programs. They proportionally represented the geographical areas of the United States.

One of the major conclusions of this study was that an increasing number of nurse educators in baccalaureate and higher degree programs are assuming the research role and becoming involved in the production of nursing research. However, many nurse educators who complete research studies never communicate their findings to the rest of the nursing profession. Another major conclusion was that a large proportion of educational institutions and administrators do not adequately support nursing research, particularly in regard to wordload assignment and funding.

There were many factors that influenced the research role of nurse educators, some relating to the individual backgrounds of the researcher and some relating to the organizational environment for research. Two of the most influential factors were peer expectations and interest in research coursework as a student. Findings from this study suggest recommendations to nurse educators for further study as well as for assessment, change, and action.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 49-04, Section: B, page: 1091.

Thesis (ED.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, 1987.

School code: 0087.