Question

How do theory and research influence each other? How do theory and research affect practice in nursing? Using your experience as a nurse, provide an example of how a theory or research affected patient care.

Answer 1

Hypothesis, theory and research are the three main seeds that are interconnected to each other, which results in the development of new discoveries. A hypothesis is formulated to start a new research, on the basis of acquired observations and data, supporting or rejecting the hypothesis, progressed from the research a theory is formed. This obtained theory can be a better explanation for the selected hypothesis.

it is not necessary that to have a hypothesis to start a new research. That's why we say hypothesis, theory and research are connected. A research can be done to prove a theory Or to formulate a new theory.

In simple terms, a theory can lead to continual research. As the research progresses more or fewer facts or observation may change from the selected theory and thus results in a discovery of a new improvised or different theory.

In nursing, research and theory play an important role in nursing care. Evidence-based practice is an example of the need for research in the field of patient care. Every new research in nursing practice helps to gather evidence and records observation. This collecting of observations and evidence helps nurses to avoid the errors that were repeated in the past for few times. Also, to understand new discovery of comfort patient care. With the practised skills and expert knowledge, a nurse do theorise, hypothesise, observe and collects evidence. In short, practising theory and research in nursing helps to generate knowledge in the better patient care through evidence-based practice.

Including research in nursing practice has good benefits, as it gives a new dimension of care with less error. During my work, we spotted infection in the IV cannulization area. We formulated a team, started observing and collected evidence. We observed that redness and swelling in casualisation site can be due to, if it is older than three days, if the iv line is secured in a weaker vein or near the joints where there is a high risk of displacement due to frequent movement, frequent administering high dose of antibiotics, inserted with a smaller gauge iv gadget etc.

On the basis of already proven research findings and few in the house observation, we modified the plan of action to prevent iv line infection. A team was created to check for the quality of iv line. Strict policies and actions were taken to follow the new standard practice of patient safety against iv infection. A Monthly statistics were presented from each unit.

Adopting the evidence-based practice and ongoing research helped us to reduced IV line acquired infection rate and provide a quality standard care to the patient.

Answer 2

Nursing theory helps a nurse to gain knowledge through creative thinking and structuring the ideas to enhance patients care.. These theories may have human development, intervention, nursing role function, type of care,health status,care where nurse can provide care even in complex situations.

Nurses who provide care make use of the nursing research, implementing evidenced base nursing practice. Information on nursing research has a direct impact on patients care in all health care sector.

Therefore for effective evidenced base quality patient care along with the theory , research also greatly influence the care.

But this also affect the practice in nursing

• May consume time
• Patient may or may not be willing to be a part of research
• If a nurse does research during her work,it may divert and affect the quality of care.
• It could be a workload if research is carried individually

Being a nurse it affects the carrier to an extent equally

Though it helps nurse to gain knowledge ,it always makes work twice hectic, leading to health issues,to certain level of the goal is not achieved it may lead to little mental agony.

Then the nurse has to overcome this and provide patients care

.