How Policies Help Nurses Use Research
Author Information
Author(s): Janet E. Squires, Donna Moralejo, Sandra M. LeFort
Primary Institution: University of Alberta
Hypothesis
What factors influence nurses' use of research-based practices?
Conclusion
Nurses use policies and procedures to guide their practice, but simply having these policies is not enough to ensure research is utilized effectively.
Supporting Evidence
- Most nurses reported using knowledge from P&P manuals frequently or all the time.
- Awareness of policies was significantly associated with the use of research-based practices.
- Nurses ranked P&P manuals as their number one source of practice knowledge.
Takeaway
Nurses look at rules and guidelines to help them do their jobs better, but just having those rules isn't enough to make sure they use the latest research.
Methodology
A cross-sectional survey study of staff nurses using questionnaires to assess their use of research-based practices and policies.
Potential Biases
Participants may have over-reported reliance on policies due to the framing of the study.
Limitations
The study may not represent all regions due to the inability to recruit from two healthcare regions and potential bias from the explanatory letter sent to participants.
Participant Demographics
The sample consisted of registered nurses from various clinical areas in Newfoundland and Labrador, with a mean nursing experience of 11.4 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.05
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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