Understanding Nursing Research - Book Review

AORN Journal,  Nov, 2003  by Mary G. Mathis

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Nancy Burns and Susan K. Grove 2003, 590 pp $46.95 paperback

The subject of research often is threatening to nurses. Students and professionals need not fear Understanding Nursing Research, however, because it is interesting and easy to understand. The book takes the tedium out of the research process and makes it more understandable and gratifying.

The text provides concrete steps for learning how to read, critique, and summarize research findings that readers can use in their nursing practice. The authors explain each research step thoroughly and supply appropriate examples that provide further understanding. In addition, each chapter names a web site for learning resources.

One of the third edition's new features is expansion of the strategies and examples sections to include connections between research findings and nursing practice. The book's explanations of quantitative, qualitative, and outcome-based research processes are excellent. Each topic now includes specific steps to help readers critique that aspect of a research study.

Particularly interesting areas of this book include chapters on literature review and ethics in nursing research. Literature review can be a time-consuming research step if students do not know how to use many available resources, such as libraries, electronic journals, and the Internet.

The chapter "Examining ethics in nursing research" provides crucial information about protecting study participants' human rights. The chapter discusses in detail the topics of self-determination, privacy, anonymity and confidentiality, fair treatment, and protection from discomfort. It also offers guidelines for obtaining informed consent and institutional review board approval. The authors stress the need for nurses to act as patient advocates by determining whether research has been conducted ethically.

To help readers understand the structural elements of research studies, the book describes how to clarify research designs and explains the concepts of populations and samples. It also shows how statistics are used in research.

An important section of the book thoroughly examines the use of research findings to change current practice. This topic includes a description of barriers that nurses face in applying research findings--barriers erected by practicing nurses and organizations.

Problems inherent in nursing research that inhibit the application of research findings include research that has not been replicated enough for use in practice, is not written in language that practicing nurses can understand, or does not communicate how findings are useful in today's clinical settings. Each step of Rogers' theory of research use is described in this section. Additionally, the importance of using nursing research in evidence-based practice is discussed.

Although this book is geared toward baccalaureate nursing students, it is a useful addition to practicing nurses' personal and clinical libraries. The book's examples and references to web sites contribute to a fuller understanding of the nursing research process and are beneficial resources.

This book is available from W B Saunders, The Curtis Center, Independence Square West, Philadelphia, PA 19106, http://www.us.elsevierhealth.com.

MARY G. MATHIS

RN, MN, CNOR

STAFF NURSE, SURGICAL SERVICES

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

MEDICAL CENTER

SEATTLE

COPYRIGHT 2003 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group