H Sherrard

Bio: H Sherrard is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cronbach's alpha & Nursing research. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 5 citations.

Cardiac nurses' perceptions of nursing research.

Abstract: Nurses' perception of nursing research is an important variable affecting the successful development of a clinical nursing research program. The objectives of this study were to: examine the perceived value, role, interest, support and experience of cardiac nurses in nursing research; to determine the effects of age and level of education on their perceptions; and to analyze the reliability of Alcock et al.'s questionnaire. The survey was administered to 313 nurses with a response rate of 46%. Frequency distributions were obtained on individual survey items. MANOVAs were performed as a function of age group and education level, followed by post hoc ANOVAs. Findings showed nurses valued nursing research particularly as it related to clinical practice decisions and solutions to patient care problems. They saw a participatory role in the first stages of the research process. Age was not a factor in nurses' perceptions of nursing research with the exception of perceived support. Diploma nurses indicated higher levels of perceived value (p = 0.000), role (p = 0.034), interest (p = 0.000) and support (p = 0.017) for nursing research than baccalaureate nurses. The Cronbach reliability coefficient of each area indicated high internal consistency (> 0.72). When 5 items in the questionnaire are deleted, the tool exhibits high level of reliability and evidence of construct and discriminant validity.

Research information in nurses’ clinical decision‐making: what is useful?

Abstract: Research information in nurses’ clinical decision-making: what is useful? Aim. To examine those sources of information which nurses find useful for reducing the uncertainty associated with their clinical decisions. Background. Nursing research has concentrated almost exclusively on the concept of research implementation. Few, if any, papers examine the use of research knowledge in the context of clinical decision-making. There is a need to establish how useful nurses perceive information sources are, for reducing the uncertainties they face when making clinical decisions. Design. Cross-case analysis involving qualitative interviews, observation, documentary audit and Q methodological modelling of shared subjectivities amongst nurses. The case sites were three large acute hospitals in the north of England, United Kingdom. One hundred and eight nurses were interviewed, 61 of whom were also observed for a total of 180 hours and 122 nurses were involved in the Q modelling exercise. Results. Text-based and electronic sources of research-based information yielded only small amounts of utility for practising clinicians. Despite isolating four significantly different perspectives on what sources were useful for clinical decision-making, it was human sources of information for practice that were overwhelmingly perceived as the most useful in reducing the clinical uncertainties of nurse decision-makers. Conclusions. It is not research knowledge per se that carries little weight in the clinical decisions of nurses, but rather the medium through which it is delivered. Specifically, text-based and electronic resources are not viewed as useful by nurses engaged in making decisions in real time, in real practice, but those individuals who represent a trusted and clinically credible source are. More research needs to be carried out on the qualities of people regarded as clinically important information agents (specifically, those in clinical nurse specialist and associated roles) whose messages for practice appear so useful for clinicians.

Qualitative Research into Nurse Decision Making: Factors for Consideration in Theoretical Sampling

Abstract: This article details some of the theoretical sampling choices available to researchers considering qualitative approaches to research into nurse decision making and the information that informs it. It draws on the theoretical and empirical literature on decision theory and, in so doing, provides a rationale for the theoretical sampling choices proposed. The final sampling frame is designed to be applied to decision research in nursing but could offer starting points for research into the decisions of other professional clinical groups.

PEARLS, PITH, AND PROVOCATION Qualitative Research Into Nurse Decision Making: Factors for Consideration in Theoretical Sampling

Abstract: This article details some of the theoretical sampling choices available to researchers considering qualitative approaches to research into nurse decision making and the information that informs it. It draws on the theoretical and empirical literature on decision theory and, in so doing, provides a rationale for the theoretical sampling choices proposed. The final sampling frame is designed to be applied to decision research in nursing but could offer starting points for research into the decisions of other professional clinical groups.

New Brunswick nurses' views on nursing research, and factors influencing their research activities in clinical practice

Abstract: New Brunswick became the first province in Canada to require a baccalaureate degree in nursing as the entry to practice, yet nursing research in hospital settings remains quite low. This study examined clinical nurses' views on nursing research, and identified some contributing factors to the research-practice gap. This descriptive, cross-sectional multicenter study involved 1081 nurses working in the Francophone Regional Health Authority in New Brunswick, Canada. Nurses were eager to identify nursing-care problems to improve patient care (92.9%), and to be involved in collecting data for nursing research studies (95.2%). However, without research supervision, few had engaged in basic research activities, such as formulating or refining research questions (24.5%), presenting at research conferences (6.9%), or changing their practice based on research findings (27.2%). Younger, more educated nurses, nurse managers, and educators participated more readily in research. Sharing research and clinical expertise, as well as infrastructures between academic and clinical institutions is the key to enduring successful patient-centered nursing research in clinical settings. Concrete actions are proposed to build clinical nursing research.

Conduction and Utilization of Research: The Relationship Between Air Force Nurses' Attitudes, Levels of Education, and Rank

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of Air Force nurse toward research. The study used a descriptive-correlational design to examine these attitudes, and the results were correlated with level of education and rank. The study used a convenience sample and the site was a Midwestern Air Force medical center. Almost 100% of Air Force nurses surveyed had at least a Bachelor's degree, 97% had a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in nursing. Air Force nurses had an overall good attitude toward nursing research. Air Force nurses at the Diploma, BSN, and MSN education levels in nursing had the most research experience in the past five years. Rank and highest total level of education (nursing and non-nursing combined) were not found to be statistically significant predictors of research experience or attitude. Highest level of education in nursing was found to be a statistically significant predictor of research experience and attitude in the Air Force nurses studied.