Symbiosis—Undergraduate research mentoring and faculty scholarship in nursing

Abstract

Although teaching is the major focus of academia, research and professional publications frequently determine faculty eligibility for promotion and tenure. In universities where funded research is scarce, faculty need creative means to accomplish research goals. Research is an essential part of baccalaureate nursing education. The goal of research education at the baccalaureate level is to prepare knowledgeable consumers in nursing research. The purpose of this article is to describe an undergraduate nursing research course that provide students with hands-on experience in the conduct of nursing research and provide faculty with assistance in moving their research agenda forward. Faculty members were solicited to work with 5-10 students in a research project that was either in the planning stages or actively in progress. After one year of program implementation, faculty and students were involved in presenting poster and oral presentations at state, regional, and international research conferences. Manuscripts and proposals for funding are in the process of submission.

Fostering enthusiasm for research: Insights of undergraduate nursing students

“…The benefits of undergraduate students working collaboratively with faculty members on original research have been documented in the literature. Many of these benefits are similar to those we have reported [11,12] .…”

An Undergraduate Research Fellowship Program to Prepare Nursing Students for Future Workforce Roles

“…D’Souza, Dwyer, Allison, Miller, and Drohan (2011) described how Wesley College improved the research experience for all students on campus, whereas others Reutter et al (2010) and Burkhart and Hall (2015) described efforts to enhance research education within the context of a baccalaureate nursing program. Wheeler, Hardie, Schell, and Plowfield (2008) described the mutual benefit to students and faculty of a mentored research immersion experience. These programs occurred over the course of one or two college semesters and potentially spanned 2 years of the program curriculum.…”

Nursing students’ perspectives about experiential learning in a research study

“…There are multiple models for including students in planned curricular research projects with faculty. [16][17][18][19] Our students tell us that when they are entrusted to conduct many aspects of a research study, and expected to do so each week for 12 weeks, it changes their views, commitment, and professional identification with the value of nursing research and professional practice.…”