Camouflaging nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice–Experiences of newly-graduated masters of science in nursing

Abstract

Objective: To explore and describe how newly-graduated Masters of Science in Nursing experienced engaging in nursing research-related tasks in daily clinical practice.Methods: Fifteen nurses withholding a Masters of Science in Nursing degree were recruited from our longitudinal cohort study and interviewed six months after graduation in December 2016 (n = 10) and in December 2017 (n = 5), respectively. Data were analysed using Graneheim and Lundmann’s qualitative manifest and latent content analysis. Lincoln and Guba’s four criteria of trustworthiness were followed.Results: The main theme of the overall interpretation was Camouflaging nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice. The main theme describe the Master of Science in Nursing graduates as highly motivated to use their new academic skills in clinical practice and how they have to hide their engagement in research due to the barriers, which are outlined in the three themes: the position as time restrainer, the management as gatekeeper, and the nursing culture as norm setter.Conclusions: The study contributes with knowledge on how the Master of Science in Nursing graduates struggle to use their academic skills in clinical practice and how they felt the need to camouflage their commitment in research because it was not well reputed among their colleagues.

A lack of allocated research time challenges the extent of the implementation of evidence-based practice - A three-year retrospective follow-up cohort study of Master of Science in Nursing graduates

“…This paradox could indicate that the MSN graduates spent their spare time on research. It is not a new phenomenon that academic nurses [23] and clinical nurses [27,[32][33][34] use their spare time on research-related activities. A mixed methods study by Loke and colleagues [33] on clinical nurses' research activities showed how the clinical nurses were aware that research should be undertaken in their own time and found it difficult to balance non-paid research work with family life.…”

“…A qualitative study showed how MSN graduates engaged in nursing research-related tasks in their spare time or while working shifts, in order to stay in focus and continue their motivation for conducting research. [23] Even though the MSN graduates had fewer hours allocated to research activities, from one to three years after graduation, they still believed strongly in the value of evidence-based practice and were confident in their ability to implement it.…”

“…The participants were invited by email to participate in the three-year follow-up and were simultaneously offered a copy of the published articles of the prior cohort results. [21,23] Blind carbon copy was used to support the participants' anonymity in the emails. Completion of the questionnaire was considered to mean consent to participate.…”

The positive impact over time of Master’s level education on nurses’ utilization of nursing research-related tasks in clinical practice – A longitudinal cohort study

“…The development of the MSN graduates' research utilization from six to 12 months can also be viewed in comparison with their statements in our qualitative study of their experiences of engaging in nursing research-related tasks in daily clinical practice six months after graduation. [30] In the semi-structured interviews the MSN graduates described barriers concerning how they felt limited in participating and utilizing nursing research-related tasks due to restrictions with their nursing management, the hierarchy and culture among their nursing colleagues and the limited time due to restrictions in their employment positions. [30] Some of these barriers could very well have been overcome and improved over the following six months, which was what we found in our present cohort study according to the MSN graduates' positions of employment.…”

“…The qualitative study describing the MSN graduates' experiences after six months showed that nursing management prioritized patientcare tasks for the graduates, instead of providing time for them to perform nursing research-related tasks. [30] However There is clearly a positive development in MSN graduates' utilization and improvement of nursing research-related tasks and knowledge in daily clinical practice. However, do these research practices have an effect on the patients and do they have an impact on nursing care?…”