Research skills in nursing undergraduate students: A case study at a Chilean private university

Fernando Vera

doi:10.23954/osj.v5i3.2487

Abstract

Tertiary education in Chile has increased radically over the past 20 years. According to the Higher Education Information Service (Servicio de Información de Educación Superior: SIES), in 2018, there were 1,188,423 students enrolled in undergraduate programs, totaling 94.1% of the 1,262,771 students enrolled in Higher Education Institutions (SIES, 2018). In fact, there are both private and public universities available for students who seek an undergraduate program. In this context, nursing is an increasingly in-demand program and an option for all ages in this country. In general, this program calls for and develops skills and qualities essential to the Nursing profession, amongst them: technical knowledge, critical thinking, empathy and strong communication skills. The purpose of this paper is to examine the main difficulties that undergraduate nursing students, at a Chilean private university, encounter when conducting their research proposal. Two instruments were used to collect data: an online self-administered questionnaire consisting of 14 closed-ended questions and a rubric to assess students’ research proposals. The sample comprised of a total of 41 students, who were in the 23-52 age group. The average age was 34 years (SD= 5.78). Female students accounted for 88.5% of the total group. Findings indicate that there is a gap in research skills in these students. This article is based on the author’s teaching experience.

Highlights

Unlike basic or fundamental research, considered as a systematic study oriented to gaining knowledge and better understanding of certain phenomena, without application, applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems
The main role of nursing research is improving the health of populations and contributing to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Results clearly demonstrate that there is a direct gap between practice and research, as the topics these students have chosen for their research proposal will benefit other areas of health, thereby preventing nursing to develop as a scientific field

Summary

Introduction

Unlike basic or fundamental research, considered as a systematic study oriented to gaining knowledge and better understanding of certain phenomena, without application, applied research refers to scientific study and research that seeks to solve practical problems. In nursing, it plays an important role solving practical problems that often have an impact on life, work, health and overall well-being. It plays an important role solving practical problems that often have an impact on life, work, health and overall well-being This type of research present findings that should be directly applied in all nursing areas, such as, pain management, patient education and nursing diagnosis. The only SDG with comprehensive health outcome targets is SDG 3, Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages (United Nations, 2015)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion