Interfacing
Nursing
N
URSING PRACTICE must address physiological as well as psychological responses of individuals to actual and potential health problems. Excellence in practice and research demands well-tested areas of study whose theoretical frameworks are based on state-of-the-art science. It is imperative that attention be given to the interface of the biologic sciences with the evolving knowledge base in nursing. This will provide direction to improve aspects of patient care such as symptom assessment, management, and interventions to prevent and reduce physical distress. As a result of this concern, in 1988, the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) analyzed the content of its research grants. A review of the total portfolio reported 14 1 funded grants, of which 35 (25 percent) contained biologic measurements or techniques. One hundred thirty-one fellows received NCNR training support; three fellows (2 percent) were enrolled in one of the biologic science disciplines. Similar findings were reported in a 1990 survey. The analysis showed that a small proportion of NCNR’s portfolio focused on biologic sciences or on training in the biologic sciences, limiting the interface of these sciences with nursing knowledge. To examine the nature of the relationship between nursing and biologic research and to consider strategies that would facilitate the use of cutting-edge biologic science topics, measutements, and techniques with the developing knowledge base in nursing, a Biological Task Force Meeting was held by the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) in March 1990. Objectives of the Biological Task Force Meeting were to consider strategies that would (1) generate knowledge for basic and clinical research issues involved with interfacing nursing and the biologic sciences, (2) generate clinical application of nursing knowledge from the interface of nurs-
ADA SUE HINSHAW, PHD,
RN
Director
HILARY D. SIGMON, PHD, NurseScientist Administrator Natiod
Center for Nursing Raearch
National
Institutes of Health
RN
Bethesda. MD 20892
ADA M. LINDSEY, PHD,
RN
De& School of Nursing University of California,
La5 Angeles
Las Angeles, CA 90024
This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use. 8755-7221/91/0705-0002$00.00/0
264
Journal
of Professional
and Biologic Science ing science and the biological sciences, (3) incorporate state-of-the-art biologic research for nurse faculty with academic preparation in the biologic sciences, and (4) develop a cadre of nurse scientists with a background in the biologic sciences either through nursing programs or programs in other disciplines. Task force participants recommended three implementation strategies to facilitate the growth of nursing research with the incorporation of biologic sciences. The first strategy proposed increasing the knowledge of the biologic sciences within the nursing profession and imparting knowledge of nursing science to biologic scientists. Mechanisms were identified to increase research collaboration among nurse and biologic scientists. Examples of such mechanisms include the following: (1) biologic content as part of program announcements (PA) or requests for applications (RFA) issued by NCNR; (2) program announcements (PA) or requests for applications (RFA) to support interdisciplinary research between nursing and the biologic sciences focusing on nursing practice questions and problems; and (3) mechanisms to increase research collaboration among nurse and biologic scientists. The second strategy recommended the development of a cadre of nurses and nurse scientists with a background in the biologic sciences, including the following possibilities: (1) advising master of science degree programs in nursing to include advanced human biologic sciences in the curriculum, regardless of the students’ area of specialization; (2) increasing predoctoral awards, postdoctoral awards, as well as midcareer awards for individuals interested in interfacing nursing and the biologic sciences; (3) establishing institutional training grants with a nursing and biologic foci; and (4) publicizing the opportunities for training nurse researchers in nursing science and the biologic sciences. The third strategy involved developing mechanisms for understanding the interface of nursing with the biologic sciences within the nursing communiry. The National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR) concurred with the recommendations of the NCNR’s Biological Task Force. The implications for the interface of nursing science with the biologic sciences as a basis for research and its subsequent findings for practice are tremendous. To prevent and reduce physiological and pathological distress of individuals with potential and actual health problems, nurse researchers need to be knowledgeable about and implement recent advances in biotechnology. To address all aspects of nursing care, nursing research programs in the 1990s need to include a focus on the interface of nursing and the biologic sciences.
Nwsing, Vol 7, No 5 (September-October),
1991: p 264
Nursing
N
URSING PRACTICE must address physiological as well as psychological responses of individuals to actual and potential health problems. Excellence in practice and research demands well-tested areas of study whose theoretical frameworks are based on state-of-the-art science. It is imperative that attention be given to the interface of the biologic sciences with the evolving knowledge base in nursing. This will provide direction to improve aspects of patient care such as symptom assessment, management, and interventions to prevent and reduce physical distress. As a result of this concern, in 1988, the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) analyzed the content of its research grants. A review of the total portfolio reported 14 1 funded grants, of which 35 (25 percent) contained biologic measurements or techniques. One hundred thirty-one fellows received NCNR training support; three fellows (2 percent) were enrolled in one of the biologic science disciplines. Similar findings were reported in a 1990 survey. The analysis showed that a small proportion of NCNR’s portfolio focused on biologic sciences or on training in the biologic sciences, limiting the interface of these sciences with nursing knowledge. To examine the nature of the relationship between nursing and biologic research and to consider strategies that would facilitate the use of cutting-edge biologic science topics, measutements, and techniques with the developing knowledge base in nursing, a Biological Task Force Meeting was held by the National Center for Nursing Research (NCNR) in March 1990. Objectives of the Biological Task Force Meeting were to consider strategies that would (1) generate knowledge for basic and clinical research issues involved with interfacing nursing and the biologic sciences, (2) generate clinical application of nursing knowledge from the interface of nurs-
ADA SUE HINSHAW, PHD,
RN
Director
HILARY D. SIGMON, PHD, NurseScientist Administrator Natiod
Center for Nursing Raearch
National
Institutes of Health
RN
Bethesda. MD 20892
ADA M. LINDSEY, PHD,
RN
De& School of Nursing University of California,
La5 Angeles
Las Angeles, CA 90024
This is a US government work. There are no restrictions on its use. 8755-7221/91/0705-0002$00.00/0
264
Journal
of Professional
and Biologic Science ing science and the biological sciences, (3) incorporate state-of-the-art biologic research for nurse faculty with academic preparation in the biologic sciences, and (4) develop a cadre of nurse scientists with a background in the biologic sciences either through nursing programs or programs in other disciplines. Task force participants recommended three implementation strategies to facilitate the growth of nursing research with the incorporation of biologic sciences. The first strategy proposed increasing the knowledge of the biologic sciences within the nursing profession and imparting knowledge of nursing science to biologic scientists. Mechanisms were identified to increase research collaboration among nurse and biologic scientists. Examples of such mechanisms include the following: (1) biologic content as part of program announcements (PA) or requests for applications (RFA) issued by NCNR; (2) program announcements (PA) or requests for applications (RFA) to support interdisciplinary research between nursing and the biologic sciences focusing on nursing practice questions and problems; and (3) mechanisms to increase research collaboration among nurse and biologic scientists. The second strategy recommended the development of a cadre of nurses and nurse scientists with a background in the biologic sciences, including the following possibilities: (1) advising master of science degree programs in nursing to include advanced human biologic sciences in the curriculum, regardless of the students’ area of specialization; (2) increasing predoctoral awards, postdoctoral awards, as well as midcareer awards for individuals interested in interfacing nursing and the biologic sciences; (3) establishing institutional training grants with a nursing and biologic foci; and (4) publicizing the opportunities for training nurse researchers in nursing science and the biologic sciences. The third strategy involved developing mechanisms for understanding the interface of nursing with the biologic sciences within the nursing communiry. The National Advisory Council for Nursing Research (NACNR) concurred with the recommendations of the NCNR’s Biological Task Force. The implications for the interface of nursing science with the biologic sciences as a basis for research and its subsequent findings for practice are tremendous. To prevent and reduce physiological and pathological distress of individuals with potential and actual health problems, nurse researchers need to be knowledgeable about and implement recent advances in biotechnology. To address all aspects of nursing care, nursing research programs in the 1990s need to include a focus on the interface of nursing and the biologic sciences.
Nwsing, Vol 7, No 5 (September-October),
1991: p 264
