Fostering enthusiasm for research: Insights of undergraduate nursing students

Abstract

Engaging undergraduate nursing students in research is essential to promoting evidence-informed nursing, but can prove challenging. The purpose of this article is to highlight key experiences of four undergraduate nursing students who are enthusiastic about research with the potential to inform the education and training of undergraduate nursing students in research. Analysis of our own experiences emphasized that enthusiasm for research is promoted by the following factors: love of learning, opportunities for collaboration, support, confidence, overcoming research related challenges, research visibility and realizing the impact of research. Research related challenges and the invisibility of research served to diminish our enthusiasm. From these observations, we concluded that to promote nursing student enthusiasm for research, opportunities for exposure to research need to be available, allowing students to grasp the nature and impact of nursing research. More studies are needed to assess the research experiences of undergraduate nursing students.

Rotações de Iniciação à Investigação: Programa de iniciação à investigação para estudantes de licenciatura

“…In an integrative review about nursing students' attitudes toward research, Ross and Burrell (2019) concluded that factors such as taking a research course, having an interest in a particular area of nursing research, application of research knowledge, or having prior research experience were associated with an improvement in undergraduate students' attitudes toward nursing research (Ross & Burrell, 2019). Moreover, Warkentin et al (2014) analyzed the experiences of four undergraduate nursing students who were enthusiastic about research and concluded that students found that collaboration and support were necessary factors to generate and maintain enthusiasm for research. Collaboration implies working alongside researchers, collaborators, and other students in the research processes.…”

“…Concerning support, students identified, for example, training sessions in research programs. Collaboration and support opportunities served to increase students' confidence and practical skills, resulting in them realizing their potential as researchers and, subsequently, their ability to pursue their studies (Warkentin et al, 2014).…”

Development of the Scientific Research Competency Scale for nurses

“…Therefore, statements such as, 'Guiding someone through his/her research in case of having relevant experience' and 'Being happy about providing support for research' are included in the scale. Overcoming difficulties encountered regarding research is suggested to encourage enthusiasm towards research (Warkentin et al, 2014). This is reflected in the scale as the 'Ability to stay calm in the event of a crisis' and 'Ability to find alternatives in the event of a crisis'.…”

The future of pediatric nursing science

“…Underlying these research content issues is the lack of exposure of students to PhD-prepared nurse scientists conducting rigorous and practice-relevant research (Hickey, 2018;Warkentin, Popik, Usick, & Farley, 2014). In research intensive universities where students are perhaps most likely to gain exposure to rigorous nursing science, faculty with active research funding often are released from teaching obligations to focus on conducting their studies.…”