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Scholarship: How important is it?
FROMT.E Eo,TOR SCHOLARSHIP-"HOW IMPORTANT IS IT?
Carole A. Anderson, PhD,RN, FAAN
M
ost people are not born writers or do not have an innate instinct to disseminate what they know to others. However, as professionals, we are required to do just that for some very important reasons. Most importantly, a well-developed body of knowledge distinguishes a profession from a trade-an important distinction for an applied practice profession such as nursing. Equally important, becausewe are a practice profession, we must ensure that we have a solid scholarly and scientific foundation upon which to base our practice. Clearly, without such a base we are merely a trade. As a profession with a well-developed scholarly and scientific base, nursing is less mature than older, well-established disciplines. However, we have come a long way and can all be proud of our accomplishments. Many factors have influenced the speed at which knowledge has grown and developed in nursing. One important factor is that the responsibility to engage in scholarly work has fallen on NuRs OUTLOOK 1995;43:247-8. Copyright © 1995 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0029-6554•95/$5.00 + 0 35139169561
NURSING OUTLOOK
just a small percentage of the profession. In every discipline, at all times, the primary responsibility for the development of knowledge belongs to the faculty and clinicians who have had advanced preparation; those persons are expected to engage in research and scholarship. However, in nursing that talent pool is
A well-developed body of knowledge distinguishes a profession from a trade an important distinction for an applied practice profession such as nursing. limited. For example, faculty members are spread throughout a large number of programs, and too few of them (less than 50%) have attained the terminal degree with its inherent research and scholarly skill development. In spite of this reality, nursing's scholarly and scientific base
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1995
has grown substantially in the past several decades. In itsearly stages, much of the research and scholarship in nursing was centered on educational issues: students, the curriculum, and the educational process. Why? Because many nursing academics received their doctoral education in the field of education. Over time, however, as more nurses received their doctoral education in related sciences and nursing, the body of literature in the field reflected those changing demographics, and the nursing literature grew and matured. We were coming into our own, and, as is usually the case, that body of knowledge provided the foundation for the development of doctoral programs in nursing and consequently increased the number of nurse researchers and scholars. We now have more than 300 nursing journals that focus on subject matter crucial to the profession: clinical topics, research, education, policy, knowledge development, management, and health care. Information disseminated through these journals helps shape the profession and the practice of nursing. Our scholarship is wide-ranging, with Anderson
247
a growing emphasis on empirical work directed toward a better understanding of how we can provide effective, efficient careto our patients. However, we are challenged to do more. With increased emphasis on various forms of health care reforms, there is a growing need for research on clinical outcomes of nursing interventions and studies that document the value of nursing's contributions to care and patient welfare. Just as medicine is being held to practice within scientifically proven clinical guidelines, so must nursr ing. We must base our practice on sound empirical work and we must changewhat we do and how we do it in accordance with what we know to be good science. Nursing is challenged to find ways of enhancing functioning in different populations, especially those with chronic illness. We need to demonstrate
that our interventions, for example, have made a difference in the utilization of services, decreased negative
We must base our practice on sound empirical work and we must change what we do and how we do it in accordance with what we know to be good science. events, and enhanced quality of life. Nurse faculty and clinicians must meet these challenges to keep our profession and our practice vital.
Engaging in research and scholarship can be very rewarding. There is, for example, the intrinsic pleasure derived from discovery and creativity. It is gratifying to be acknowledged by others as expert. Not unimportant, of course, is the personal success that accrues to productive scholars. Being productive requires one to keep abreast, to stay current, to know where the discipline is and where it should be going. Being vitally involved in this way keeps people engaged, vital, alive, and avoids stagnation and boredom. Nursing Outlook is dedicated to publishing work that will move the nursing profession forward and to disseminating information that can challenge and provide the impetus for change in many settings and venues. I welcome your contributions. •
Call for Manuscripts NURSING OUTLOOKwelcomes manuscripts related to nursing education, practice, or research or to health care policy and delivery. Please submit manuscripts to the Editor at the following address: Carole A. Anderson, PhD, RN, FAAN The Ohio State University College of Nursing 1585 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210 For details about the JOURNAL'seditorial policy and manuscript preparation, see the Information for Authors pages.
248
Anderson
V O L U M E 43 * NUMBER 6
NURSING O U T L O O K
Carole A. Anderson, PhD,RN, FAAN
M
ost people are not born writers or do not have an innate instinct to disseminate what they know to others. However, as professionals, we are required to do just that for some very important reasons. Most importantly, a well-developed body of knowledge distinguishes a profession from a trade-an important distinction for an applied practice profession such as nursing. Equally important, becausewe are a practice profession, we must ensure that we have a solid scholarly and scientific foundation upon which to base our practice. Clearly, without such a base we are merely a trade. As a profession with a well-developed scholarly and scientific base, nursing is less mature than older, well-established disciplines. However, we have come a long way and can all be proud of our accomplishments. Many factors have influenced the speed at which knowledge has grown and developed in nursing. One important factor is that the responsibility to engage in scholarly work has fallen on NuRs OUTLOOK 1995;43:247-8. Copyright © 1995 by Mosby-Year Book, Inc. 0029-6554•95/$5.00 + 0 35139169561
NURSING OUTLOOK
just a small percentage of the profession. In every discipline, at all times, the primary responsibility for the development of knowledge belongs to the faculty and clinicians who have had advanced preparation; those persons are expected to engage in research and scholarship. However, in nursing that talent pool is
A well-developed body of knowledge distinguishes a profession from a trade an important distinction for an applied practice profession such as nursing. limited. For example, faculty members are spread throughout a large number of programs, and too few of them (less than 50%) have attained the terminal degree with its inherent research and scholarly skill development. In spite of this reality, nursing's scholarly and scientific base
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1995
has grown substantially in the past several decades. In itsearly stages, much of the research and scholarship in nursing was centered on educational issues: students, the curriculum, and the educational process. Why? Because many nursing academics received their doctoral education in the field of education. Over time, however, as more nurses received their doctoral education in related sciences and nursing, the body of literature in the field reflected those changing demographics, and the nursing literature grew and matured. We were coming into our own, and, as is usually the case, that body of knowledge provided the foundation for the development of doctoral programs in nursing and consequently increased the number of nurse researchers and scholars. We now have more than 300 nursing journals that focus on subject matter crucial to the profession: clinical topics, research, education, policy, knowledge development, management, and health care. Information disseminated through these journals helps shape the profession and the practice of nursing. Our scholarship is wide-ranging, with Anderson
247
a growing emphasis on empirical work directed toward a better understanding of how we can provide effective, efficient careto our patients. However, we are challenged to do more. With increased emphasis on various forms of health care reforms, there is a growing need for research on clinical outcomes of nursing interventions and studies that document the value of nursing's contributions to care and patient welfare. Just as medicine is being held to practice within scientifically proven clinical guidelines, so must nursr ing. We must base our practice on sound empirical work and we must changewhat we do and how we do it in accordance with what we know to be good science. Nursing is challenged to find ways of enhancing functioning in different populations, especially those with chronic illness. We need to demonstrate
that our interventions, for example, have made a difference in the utilization of services, decreased negative
We must base our practice on sound empirical work and we must change what we do and how we do it in accordance with what we know to be good science. events, and enhanced quality of life. Nurse faculty and clinicians must meet these challenges to keep our profession and our practice vital.
Engaging in research and scholarship can be very rewarding. There is, for example, the intrinsic pleasure derived from discovery and creativity. It is gratifying to be acknowledged by others as expert. Not unimportant, of course, is the personal success that accrues to productive scholars. Being productive requires one to keep abreast, to stay current, to know where the discipline is and where it should be going. Being vitally involved in this way keeps people engaged, vital, alive, and avoids stagnation and boredom. Nursing Outlook is dedicated to publishing work that will move the nursing profession forward and to disseminating information that can challenge and provide the impetus for change in many settings and venues. I welcome your contributions. •
Call for Manuscripts NURSING OUTLOOKwelcomes manuscripts related to nursing education, practice, or research or to health care policy and delivery. Please submit manuscripts to the Editor at the following address: Carole A. Anderson, PhD, RN, FAAN The Ohio State University College of Nursing 1585 Neil Avenue Columbus, OH 43210 For details about the JOURNAL'seditorial policy and manuscript preparation, see the Information for Authors pages.
248
Anderson
V O L U M E 43 * NUMBER 6
NURSING O U T L O O K