A study of the teaching of nursing research using the project method to post-basic registered nurses on ENB Course 100 (General intensive care nursing for RGN)

Abstract

The study examined how a project based on the research process was included in ENB Course 100 and how effective this method was in teaching course members about nursing research. The data was collected by a postal questionnaire to course teachers and by pre- and post-project questionnaires to 12 course members taught by the investigator. Most course teachers include a project in their programme and felt this met the research objective required by the ENB. Advantages of the method described were improved problem-solving skills, awareness and understanding of research and implications arising for clinical practice. Disadvantages include limitations of time, quality, ethical considerations and selecting suitable topic areas. The course members had received little instruction on nursing research prior to the course, but their attitudes to it were positive. Following the project, they described the practical experience of data collection and analysis as the most enjoyable aspects, and the least enjoyable as interpretation and writing up of results. Attitudes to nursing research had improved or remained positive from the experience of the project method. It was recommended that the project be considered as a method of teaching nursing research in this post-basic course.