On the state of play in nursing research

Abstract

This paper presents some snapshot views of the problems of, and prospects for, developing a research culture in nursing. It argues that nursing research is enmeshed in political, social and gendered forces. A n y achievement has to be set within the framework of nursing's relative youth and its own intellectual history within academe, along with the impact that different research traditions have exerted upon it. It is argued that lessons might be learnedfrom models used to develop research in similar groups, for example by nurses in the U S A or among social science researchers in this county. Models of developmentBut how are we to measure and monitor nursing's performance in the research game? What criteria can we use to characterise the quality of the research culture in nursing? What benchmarks should we take as evidence of any change in the trajectory of the research profile

Vision, leadership and partnership: how to enhance the nursing and midwifery contribution to research and development

“…However, a key factor in developing effective partnerships is the professions’ ability to clearly articulate their unique contribution (McKenna & Mason 1998). Our data confirms other sources (Rafferty & Traynor 1997), and further suggests that we should come to such partnerships with a clearer understanding of the social context in which we operate, as well as the vision and leadership to demonstrate our ‘added value’ in terms of research and development ability.…”

Editorial: Nurse education: time to get it right

“…Drawing on the work of Rafferty and Traynor (1997), she goes on to suggest that nurse educators consequently have to rely on this small‐scale work until more systematic evidence emerges. However, how do we arrive at a place that can generate this systematic evidence?…”

The leading edge in nursing research

“…However, Anne Marie Raflerty found in the course of investigation while holding a Harkncss Fellowship in the USA, that the NCNR is seen there as something of 'a mixed blessing'. In her paper written with Traynor (Rafferty and Traynor, 1997), Rafierty reports that some now consider the Center has not served nursing idcally by 'imbibing the culture of 1TIH' and choosing, as she puts it, to take the 'turn towards science'.…”

“…THE LINK BETWEEN NURSING RESEARCH AND NURSING PRACTICE I come now to the 'v-orry' which nagged me as I wrote this paper. Having found it fascinating to track nursing's advance in the world of science and having had fun examining the notion of 'leading edge' research in nursing, I was left wonderingand worryingabout where this apparent 'turn towards science' (Rafferty and Traynor, 1997) is actually leading.…”