Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2025-06-11Epub Date: 2025-01-02DOI: 10.7748/nr.2025.e1952
Shannon Dhollande, Diksha Sapkota, Silke Meyer
{"title":"Sex workers and their stories: using timelines as a creative method in research involving underserved populations.","authors":"Shannon Dhollande, Diksha Sapkota, Silke Meyer","doi":"10.7748/nr.2025.e1952","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2025.e1952","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Researchers may often find it challenging to gather data with underserved populations, even when using traditional qualitative methods. They may also be at risk of further entrenching the hegemony of the dominant narrative, silencing participants' experiences and further marginalising and excluding those most in need. Timelines and other creative methods are useful, sensitive tools that combine flexibility and malleability with an ethical appeal, such as feminist ethics of care. Researchers can use them to gather data from participants experiencing inequalities and trauma.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To outline the value of timelines as a method in nursing research.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This article considers feminist values, power dynamics and the ethics of using timelines when gathering data. It illustrates these using the example of a study involving female sex workers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Creative methods minimise the ways in which researchers control the production of data and enable participants to choose how they narrate complex and traumatic experiences. Researchers can combine them with deep, ongoing reflexivity to address some of the power imbalances inherent in research and mitigate epistemic violence.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>There are strong and evidence-based ethical motivations for conducting research using creative methods. Having a flexible approach to their application and use in practice is key, as not everyone wants to engage with creative methods, or they may not wish to engage with that specific method at that time. Creative methods can serve as vital anchor points in your interviews with participants and are as much about the process as they are about the output.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"33-37"},"PeriodicalIF":1.3,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142915964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"An introduction to umbrella reviews in evidence-based healthcare practice.","authors":"Jacqueline Harley","doi":"10.7748/nr.2025.e1965","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2025.e1965","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>It is essential to synthesise evidence to ensure that reliable data inform clinical practice. Umbrella reviews are a key approach for aggregating findings from systematic reviews, meta-analyses and meta-syntheses. They help healthcare professionals to evaluate diverse findings in a single, comprehensive review. Healthcare professionals must understand how umbrella reviews work to enable them to interpret the broader research landscape and make informed clinical decisions.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To introduce the main features of umbrella reviews, examine their strengths and limitations and outline the stages involved in conducting a review.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Umbrella reviews typically involve identifying relevant reviews, assessing their quality, synthesising their findings and highlighting overall patterns and gaps. There are challenges in conducting umbrella reviews, including the potential variability of the included reviews' quality and difficulties comparing studies with different methodologies. Nonetheless, they remain vital in guiding evidence-based practice, offering clarity in complex healthcare landscapes.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Umbrella reviews are essential tools for synthesising high-level evidence, streamlining the process of informing clinical practice. Despite certain limitations, they support evidence-based decision-making effectively.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>By aggregating evidence from systematic and meta-studies, umbrella reviews enhance understanding of complex health issues, enabling clinicians to make well-informed decisions. They improve patient care, support better clinical guidelines and reduce variability in treatment. However, clinicians must account for potential variations in the quality of the included studies.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144120797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sally Goldspink, Andrea Tuckwell, Nieky van Veggel, Hilary Engward, Naim Abdulmohdi, Marie Alexander
{"title":"Professionals in-place: the role of the practice-based research coordinator.","authors":"Sally Goldspink, Andrea Tuckwell, Nieky van Veggel, Hilary Engward, Naim Abdulmohdi, Marie Alexander","doi":"10.7748/nr.2025.e1964","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2025.e1964","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The authors were members of a large, interorganisational research project conducted by a university and an English NHS trust. The project's success relied on building positive partnerships and networks over three years. Recognising the challenges of working across different organisations, the authors created a new role for a nurse: the 'in-place research coordinator' (IPRC).</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To introduce and explain the new role and provide examples of how the authors devised and applied it during their research.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The IPRC was a member of the NHS trust, so brought valuable organisational insights to the research team while gaining research experience through applying her professional knowledge and connections.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The IPRC enabled this inter-organisational research to take place, and had measurable efficacy and impact.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>The authors recommend that future collaborative inter-organisational research projects include an IPRC, with specific budgeting for the role and recruitment from practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144081389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2025-03-13Epub Date: 2024-09-12DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1936
Adam Hughes, Wilfred McSherry
{"title":"Theoretical sensitivity and reflexivity in grounded theory.","authors":"Adam Hughes, Wilfred McSherry","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1936","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1936","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Grounded theory (GT) has become one of the foremost tools in qualitative nursing research. There are different approaches to GT but a feature common to all of them is theoretical sensitivity, which facilitates GT's iterative process. However, differences between the approaches in how to apply theoretical sensitivity and how much influence existing knowledge should play have contributed to tribalism.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To critically evaluate the role of theoretical sensitivity and reflexivity in GT and the involvement they can have, as well as explore what steps researchers can take to improve their insight.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Theoretical sensitivity enables researchers to steer their studies to answer their research questions, gain insight into their study's findings and develop theory grounded in the data. However, reflection is required for researchers to understand their effect on the theories that emerge, prevent them from applying preconceived ideas and allow for the unfettered emergence of theory.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Researchers who do not demonstrate insight into their own philosophical positions and influences risk being accused of bias; this may result in the perceived value of their theoretical outcomes being reduced. Applying a reflexive process may mitigate this, enabling them to understand and refine their methodological processes and produce high-quality GT research.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>All researchers should consider using reflexivity when conducting research. Understanding influences and positionality in qualitative methodologies allows for transparency and improves the rigour of their outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"11-18"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142298548","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2025-03-13Epub Date: 2024-09-27DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1939
Allison Soprovich, Lisa Wozniak, Kari Meneen, Dean Eurich
{"title":"The impact of a nurse's dual role on implementing an effectiveness study.","authors":"Allison Soprovich, Lisa Wozniak, Kari Meneen, Dean Eurich","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1939","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1939","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Reorganizing the Approach to Diabetes through the Application of Registries (RADAR) improved diabetes care and outcomes for First Nations people in Alberta, Canada. The nurse involved in the implementation of RADAR performed two roles in this model of care: research nurse and care coordinator.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe the research nurse's dual role in the implementation and evaluation of RADAR.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The research nurse not only documented and collected data in hard-to-reach communities as part of effective research, she also provided remote care coordination to support community healthcare providers using a culturally tailored registry to facilitate population-level care. This dual role required many qualities of nursing leadership and transformation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The research nurse's two roles contributed to the success of the intervention and were critical to the successful implementation of the model, creating valuable real-world evidence across diverse populations and settings.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>Nurses are well placed to perform research duties alongside engagement and implementation activities. This can enhance the effectiveness and evaluation of healthcare interventions, particularly in community-based interventions within First Nations communities.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"19-24"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142336886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2025-03-13Epub Date: 2024-10-25DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1955
Hilarious de Jesus, Deirdre Brooking, Karen Dunne, Elisa Visentin
{"title":"Protocol club: a social learning framework for the research delivery workforce.","authors":"Hilarious de Jesus, Deirdre Brooking, Karen Dunne, Elisa Visentin","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1955","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1955","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>'Protocol club' is a learning activity underpinned by social learning theory that is designed 'by the research delivery workforce, for the research delivery workforce'. A protocol club meets regularly to critique the feasibility and deliverability of publicly available study protocols.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe a proof-of-concept protocol club aimed at addressing the training needs of a research delivery workforce at two NHS England trusts.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>The authors piloted their club with research delivery staff at the two trusts. This provided insights about group dynamics, communities of practice and confidentiality. From these results, the authors developed the framework, worksheets and other practical elements to operationalise the protocol club.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A protocol club is a useful activity for practical learning.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>Protocol clubs can be embedded in research delivery practice as a potential framework.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"26-31"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142510301","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2025-03-13Epub Date: 2024-11-14DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1947
Patricia Louise Lowe, Samantha Jakimowicz, Tracy Louise Levett-Jones, Adele Baldwin, Cindy Stern
{"title":"Using a hybrid Delphi/nominal group technique to develop a tool for appraising the quality of mixed-method grounded theory research.","authors":"Patricia Louise Lowe, Samantha Jakimowicz, Tracy Louise Levett-Jones, Adele Baldwin, Cindy Stern","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1947","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1947","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Among the many methodological approaches used to generate new knowledge in nursing research are mixed methods and grounded theory. However, it can be challenging for researchers to achieve and demonstrate the philosophically congruent integration required in mixed-method, grounded-theory research.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To use a hybrid of Delphi and nominal group techniques to develop a tool to appraise the quality of mixed-method, grounded-theory research.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>The extant literature informed the construction of an evidence-based checklist and explanatory notes that were discussed and voted upon by experienced mixed-method and grounded-theory researchers. The tool was progressively piloted in three projects employing varying grounded-theory approaches.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Experienced mixed-method and grounded-theory researchers discussed and voted on the construction of an evidence-based checklist and explanatory notes informed by the extant literature. The researchers piloted the tool in three rounds, with reference to previous studies that used various grounded-theory approaches.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reports an effective strategy for gaining consensus to develop a tool demonstrating content, inter-rater and concurrent reliability.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>Nurse researchers of various levels of expertise can use the tool developed in this study, which will accommodate future advances in mixed-method and grounded-theory research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"33-41"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142630384","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Recognising vicarious trauma in research: the experiences of researchers who work with victimisation data and the support they need.","authors":"Shannon Dhollande, Diksha Sapkota, Silke Meyer","doi":"10.7748/nr.2025.e1952","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.7748/nr.2025.e1952","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The vicarious trauma people who provide direct clinical care may experience is well documented. However, there is limited information about the vicarious trauma that researchers working with victim-survivors of domestic and family violence (DFV) or victimisation-related data may experience.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To describe and reflect on the vicarious trauma experienced by people researching DFV who have repeatedly been exposed to significant, traumatic data.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Reflections were sourced from three researchers who were studying DFV victim-survivors' stories of trauma. Their work often left them feeling distressed and helpless. Crucial self-care strategies included taking regular breaks and debriefing co-researchers.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>It is essential to monitor, prepare for and provide appropriate supervision and trauma-informed support to manage and address the vicarious trauma that researchers who work with sensitive and distressing data and vulnerable populations commonly experience.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>Researchers need to consider during the conceptual phases of their studies possible risks to their psychological safety. Furthermore, research institutions have a responsibility to support researchers' mental well-being and promote safe research practices. Ethics committees may need to ensure prior to granting ethical approval that researchers have developed and implement strategies to prevent psychological harm to themselves.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2025-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143013936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2024-12-11Epub Date: 2024-08-20DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1929
Fiona Mary Ross
{"title":"Building inclusive research cultures in nursing - getting ready for the Research Excellence Framework 2029.","authors":"Fiona Mary Ross","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1929","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1929","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The research environment is a complex ecosystem but is vital for nurturing excellence, vitality and sustainability. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) applies to research in the four nations of the UK. The framework and principles for the next REF have been published, with submissions due in 2028 and the results to be published in 2029. The three elements of the REF have changed and new weightings applied, with 'People, Culture and Environment' forming 25% of the whole.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To inform research leaders, investigators, clinical nurse researchers, and doctoral and postdoctoral students about how to prepare dynamic research strategies that prioritise inclusivity in talent management and succession.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This article considers inclusivity in research cultures, what has been learned from the previous REF and what more needs to be done collectively across the sector and specifically in nursing. The discussion draws on the author's personal knowledge and experience as a research leader, senior manager and university governor. It is intended to be challenging and practically oriented.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The article sets out provocations to shape an agenda for promoting inclusive research cultures to ensure organisational readiness for REF 2029.</p><p><strong>Implications for practice: </strong>The article provides pragmatic suggestions for moving forward at pace with making the culture in nursing research more open, transparent and fair.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"35-42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142005566","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nurse ResearcherPub Date : 2024-12-11Epub Date: 2024-08-29DOI: 10.7748/nr.2024.e1924
Emma Rowland, Anna Conolly
{"title":"A worked example of contextualising and using reflexive thematic analysis in nursing research.","authors":"Emma Rowland, Anna Conolly","doi":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1924","DOIUrl":"10.7748/nr.2024.e1924","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>A researcher must consider their research question within their world view before selecting a technique appropriate for analysing their data. This will affect their choices of methodology and methods for collecting and analysing data. Reflexive thematic analysis (RTA) has become a go-to technique for qualitative nurse researchers. However, the justifications for using it and its application in the context of a wider approach are under-discussed.</p><p><strong>Aim: </strong>To rationalise the use of RTA within a wider philosophical-methodological-methods-analysis approach and provide nurse researchers with practical guidance about how to apply it to qualitative data.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>This article conceptually grounds the seminal work of Braun and Clarke (2006 ) and provides a process for rigorously and systematically analysing qualitative data. Researchers undertaking qualitative research must use a rigorous philosophical-methodological-method-analysis approach. Before selecting a technique appropriate for analysing their data, they must consider their research question within their own world view. This has implications for their choice of methodology and consequently the data collection methods and analysis techniques they use. Researchers should be mindful of RTA's conceptual roots when applying it.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Transparent and rigorous data analysis leads to credible findings, supports evidence-based practice and contributes to the growing body of nursing research. Within the context of the wider philosophical-methodological-methods-analysis approach, RTA produces high-quality, credible findings when applied well.</p><p><strong>Implications: </strong>for practice This article can guide nursing students and novice researchers in choosing and applying RTA to their research.</p>","PeriodicalId":47412,"journal":{"name":"Nurse Researcher","volume":" ","pages":"17-27"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142113408","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}