Nursing Theory Plan of Care
Transforming nursing research evidence into practice and policy is essential for the provision of quality care. Research utilization is defined as “the systematic process of transferring research knowledge into practice for the purpose of understanding, validating, enhancing, or changing practice” and has a potential to influence attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of healthcare providers and recipients, alike (Matthew-Maich, Ploeg, Jack, & Dobbins, 2010). Most practical nursing disciplines create mechanisms of research utilization that, according to MacGuire (2006), can “clearly explicate the essential nature, meanings and components of nursing so that nurse clinicians can use this knowledge in a deliberate and meaningful way.”
There are some difficulties with the process of transforming research findings into practice. Nurses may not know about the research finding, or they may find the changes to be disruptive and resist implementing them. They may not have the appropriate training or funding, or simply may not have the autonomy to apply the knowledge into their practice independently (MacGuire, 2006).
When successfully implemented, research findings encourage nurses to make thoughtful and informed choices, to avoid automatic reactions based on old assumptions and practices, and to afford them ability to understand and critique research evidence in relation to their practice. Sometimes, a new idea could be rightfully rejected, based on a thoughtful implementation of research findings. Research utilization is a complex learning process that integrates critical reflection, knowledge, skills, values, feelings, and beliefs, and transforms insight into experiences (Matthew-Maich et al., 2010).
Research findings guide nursing practice and clinical decision making. Researching the works of nursing
