The Filipino Nurse: Taking the

Lead as Agent of Transformation

through Research
Prof Cora A. Anonuevo, PhD, RN
Annual Nursing Research Summit
March 15, 2017
MCNP, Penablanca, Cagayan
Looking back…
Who was the first nurse researcher?

• Florence Nightingale,
“Founder of Modern Nursing”

• In charge of nursing
care of soldiers in the
Crimean War, 1854-1856
• Applying research to nursing care during
the Crimean War.
• The 1st concept of nursing:
The effects of physical
environment on the recovery
of patients.
• Nightingale published Notes on nursing:
What it is and what it is not (1859)
- became the basis of nursing practice and
research

• From the “Lady with the

Lamp”
•to… being a “Nurse Transformer”
• Transforming nursing as a calling
and vocation to being a profession
- having a unique body of knowledge
leading to defined skills, abilities
and norms
• Collecting empirical data, the
foundation of nursing’s current
emphasis on evidence-based
practice.
______
• However, very slow progress in
research
Focus of research studies
• 1940s - Nursing education
• 1950s - Characteristics of
nurses and nursing roles
• 1960s – Theory-based research
and the Nursing Process
• 1970s - clinical practice; nursing diagnosis
• 1980s to present- evidence-based nursing
practice
• 1960s: Modern nursing theory (knowledge
development) began.

Virginia Henderson:
“use of nursing
knowledge that is
different from
medical knowledge”
• Stimuli to nursing research
(Polit and Hungler 1997).
• But why are nurses not using well-
established, readily available
research to support their practice?
The gaps

• Few nurses actually use research as

a basis for practice
> still, many nurses do not know
what evidence is available, or
how to apply it
• Time and effort needed to read and
understand research reports
• Accessing research may not always be easy
• Potential resistance to change that is
inherent in the adoption of new or revised
practices
What is nursing research?

• A systematic inquiry about

knowledge of….
> health phenomenon
> policy issues, history of
nursing, etc.
> social issues
Research is a scientific process that:
> validates existing knowledge
> refines existing knowledge
> generates new knowledge
Why Do Research?
Linking practice, theory, and
research: The future of nursing

Nursing
Practice

Theory/ Research
Knowledge
 Nursing
Theory/ Research
Knowledge
Nursing
Practice

Research
 Nursing
Practice

Theory/
Knowledge
Linking practice, theory, and
research: The future of nursing

Nursing
Practice

Theory/ Research
Knowledge
• Medical and Nursing knowledge is
changing fast in the world!
• Transformation taking place in nursing
are driven by:
> major socioeconomic factors
> developments in health care delivery
> professional issues unique to nursing
Drivers of Transformation:
1. Changing demographics
2. The technological explosion
3. Globalization of the world's economy
and society
Drivers of Transformation….
4. The era of the educated consumer,
alternative therapies and genomics,
and palliative care.

5. Shift to population-based care and the

increasing complexity of patient care

6. The cost of health care and health

budget cut
Drivers of Transformation…

7. The current nursing (over)supply and

opportunities for employment

8. The growing need for interdisciplinary

education for collaborative practice
Ways to foster nursing research
(Montgomery et al. 2001)
1. Integrate research in
educational curricula.

2. Use nursing research

conference, print media,
other venues to disseminate
findings and information.
3. Make dissemination and use of research
findings a priority in clinical settings.
4. Use creative efforts and funding to
enhance access to research training
5. Make research publications more reader-
friendly for nurses, and,
6. Encourage educational institutions to
collaborate creatively in research
projects.
CONCLUSION
Have a Productive day!