to develop a program of research in that area for the past 5 years .
Dr . Shameka Cody was attracted to research because of a consistent desire to “ know the why ” behind anything and everything . Her research focuses on older adults living with HIV . Noting that people are now living longer with HIV , Dr . Cody studies factors that help preserve their cognitive function .
What is Unique About Nurse Researchers ? I wanted to know what is unique about a nurse researcher compared to researchers from other professions . Dr . Johnson held that nursing research teaches you to look at a person as a whole system . Dr . Mumba highlighted that most nurse researchers do not do research simply for the sake of gathering data . Rather , they focus on improving population outcomes . Dr . Lee believes that nurse researchers have a unique perspective in being focused on clinical outcomes and applying bench research results to the clinical setting .
Challenges For Nurse Researchers When asked about the most challenging aspects of their profession , the nurse researchers gave insightful answers . Dr . Johnson noted that her work with colic required exploring a new area of study ( the microbiome ) which naturally led to some resistance and hesitation from colleagues and research funding agencies . Dr . Cody was passionate about her research , but she also shared that she still loves to practice as an adult and gerontology nurse practitioner , though she finds it difficult to do both research and practice . Dr . Mumba believed the most difficult part of her research role is ensuring that the research subjects remain important and are not treated as mere subjects .
Advice for Nursing Students As I concluded my interviews with these four nurse researchers , I wanted to collect practical advice for myself and for other nursing students . These nurse researchers were excited to share advice for nurses and nursing students who want to pursue careers in academia or research . Dr . Mumba encouraged students already interested in academia or research to pursue it and she does not believe that it is necessary to be a nurse for a certain number of years to get involved in research . With the help of mentors in your life , you can go straight from BSN to PhD programs , as she did . Dr . Cody also encouraged nursing students to engage in research early on in their careers . Dr . Lee held that the biggest barrier to current nurses engaging in research was lack of time . She encouraged nurses and nursing students to not be intimidated by research and to not think research has to occur in a lab setting .
Why Nursing Research Might Be For You Although a research career can seem distant or unattainable , the very skills nursing students are already learning are essential to research . In a 2007 article highlighting the characteristics undergraduate students are learning and how those relate to becoming good researchers , Dr . Vicki Conn argued that the development of nurse researchers begins with undergraduate students . Nursing students are learning to gather and evaluate data and make decisions based on that data . They are learning persistence ( a skill needed by researchers ) and practical hands-on skills in clinical learning laboratories . Nursing students must use critical and creative thinking to consider both the micro and macro scales . They must “ accomplish goals with limited resources ” and “ learn to balance autonomy and independence ” ( Conn , p . 256- 257 , 2007 ).
From one nursing student to another , my experience of speaking with these nurse researchers taught me the importance of speaking with nurse researchers and learning about their experiences and learning about the research process . If you are interested in research , learn about research that is already happening at your school . Look for opportunities to partner with faculty . On most nursing college websites , you can find information regarding what kinds of research the faculty are conducting . Reach out to faculty to see if you can be a part of it . Finally , start thinking about clinical problems that you notice where you would like to make a difference , as Dr . Lee did with the development of the flowchart used in the emergency
16 NSNA IMPRINT n JANUARY 2023 n www . nsna . org