Clinical nursing research: nurses attitudes and activity

Involvement and conduct of clinical nursing research is a desired professional behaviour of registered nurses and the degree of involvement is partly dependent on the attitude that nurses hold towards research. A survey methodology was used to explore the attitudes and activity levels of registered nurses employed within an acute metropolitan public hospital. Two hundred and sixty questionnaires were distributed in August 2000 to all registered nurses employed in clinical areas within a twenty-four hour period. One hundred and seventy eight questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 68%. A key finding was that few nurses had been involved in nursing research and there was little enthusiasm for future involvement in research. The respondents' estimates of their skill and confidence in their ability to conduct research were moderate. Tertiary qualifications and employment award had little impact on attitudes about research or enthusiasm for future research conduct. If nursing research is to progress in the study organisation, specific strategies to change attitudes and build skills will be needed.