Nursing Education and Scholarship Scholarship in Nursing Education
Nursing as a profession has always been deeply intertwined with educational growth and knowledge dissemination. With the constant evolution of healthcare practices, nursing education plays a critical role in ensuring that nurses are equipped with the best possible tools to provide high-quality patient care. Scholarship in nursing, particularly in nursing education, ensures that the field remains dynamic, evidence-based, and adaptable to the ever-changing healthcare landscape. This article explores the initiation of nursing scholarship, the necessity of nursing scholarships, the historical context, and the effects of social and political factors on the profession.
Initiation of Nursing Scholarship
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) defines nursing scholarship as “those activities that systematically advance the teaching, research, and practice of nursing through rigorous inquiry that:
(a) is significant to the profession,
(b) is creative,
(c) can be documented,
(d) can be replicated or elaborated,
(e) can be peer-reviewed through various methods” (AACN, 1999b, p. 1).
The definition provided by AACN underscores the critical role that scholarship plays in the ongoing advancement of the nursing profession. It emphasizes that for any nursing activity to be considered scholarship, it must adhere to strict criteria. The inquiry must be creative, rigorous, and capable of advancing nursing practice. Furthermore, it must be both replicable and peer-reviewed, ensuring its credibility and contribution to the broader nursing field.
This concept of nursing scholarship includes not only traditional research but also the dissemination of new knowledge through teaching and practice. For instance, nurse educators contribute to scholarship by creating innovative teaching methods that are backed by evidence-based practice (EBP). The activities may involve clinical research, curriculum development, or even the integration of technology into nursing education.
By maintaining these rigorous standards, nursing scholarship promotes the generation of new knowledge, the continual refinement of nursing practice, and the systematic evaluation of educational methods. Through this lens, scholarship in nursing becomes a cornerstone for the profession’s development and resilience in facing future challenges.
Necessity of Nursing Scholarships
Scholarship is a critical element for the advancement of both nursing education and practice. The necessity of scholarship in nursing cannot be overstated, as it ensures that the profession evolves alongside the changing needs of the healthcare system. The healthcare sector is continually facing new challenges, from the rise of chronic diseases to the complexities of modern patient care, making it imperative that nursing educators and practitioners engage in scholarly activities that seek solutions.
The AACN (2006) emphasizes that without a strong foundation in scholarship, nursing education and practice would stagnate. To address the complex healthcare challenges of today, nurses need to rely on evidence-based practices that are generated through scholarly inquiry. This reliance on scholarship not only enhances patient outcomes but also fosters innovation in clinical practice.
Boyer’s (1990) model of scholarship is frequently cited in nursing literature as a comprehensive framework for understanding the different facets of scholarship. Boyer identified four aspects of scholarship: discovery, teaching, application, and integration.
- Discovery
Discovery refers to the generation of new knowledge through research. For nursing, this aspect of scholarship involves conducting scientific investigations that enhance understanding in areas such as patient care, nursing education, and health policy. Nurse researchers who engage in discovery scholarship are responsible for advancing the profession by contributing to the body of knowledge that informs practice. - Teaching
The scholarship of teaching involves the bridge between teacher and student, creating environments that foster effective learning. In nursing education, this means developing pedagogical strategies that are based on evidence and research to ensure that nursing students are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need. Scholarship in teaching is not limited to classroom settings but extends to clinical education and other forms of professional development. - Application
Application refers to the use of knowledge for development and change within both educational and clinical settings. Nurses who engage in the scholarship of application take the research and theories generated through discovery and apply them to improve clinical outcomes, educational methods, and health policies. This aspect is crucial in ensuring that nursing practice remains evidence-based and aligned with the best available research. - Integration
Finally, integration involves the synthesis of knowledge across disciplines, promoting interprofessional collaboration. In the modern healthcare environment, collaboration between various health professionals, including nurses, doctors, and allied health professionals, is essential for delivering comprehensive care. The scholarship of integration allows for improved understanding of responsibilities and roles among healthcare providers, which leads to better patient outcomes.
By incorporating these four dimensions of scholarship, nursing education becomes more robust and better able to respond to the needs of both students and the healthcare system at large. Scholarship enables educators to refine their teaching strategies, ensures that nurses remain competent in their clinical practice, and drives the overall advancement of the profession.
Nursing Scholarship: A Historical View
The concept of scholarship in nursing education gained prominence in the early 1960s after Bixler and Bixler (1959) raised concerns about the legitimacy of nursing as a profession. They questioned the scientific merit of nursing traditions and practices, urging nursing scholars to develop a more rigorous scientific basis for the profession. This critique sparked a wave of scholarly activity aimed at establishing nursing theory and guiding nursing research.
During this period, nursing scholars like Meleis (1987) began developing theories that provided a structured framework for nursing practice and research. This period marked the beginning of the formalization of nursing as a scholarly discipline. The focus was on generating new knowledge and ensuring that nursing practices were based on scientific evidence, rather than tradition.
However, scholarship in nursing during the early years was primarily confined to academic settings. Research and publication were viewed as pathways to career advancement within academia, while nursing scholarship within clinical practice was given less prominence. The limited focus on clinical scholarship created a gap between academic knowledge and practical application in the workplace.
In response to these challenges, nursing leaders began to re-conceptualize the notion of scholarship in nursing. The report from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching introduced a new model of scholarship, building on Boyer’s (1990) earlier work. This new model placed greater emphasis on the integration, application, teaching, and discovery of knowledge, advocating for a broader view of scholarship that encompassed both academic and clinical settings.
The AACN’s (1999b) position paper further advanced this idea by outlining guidelines for nursing education that aligned with healthcare reform and the delivery of care. Scholarship in nursing education shifted toward the discovery of new knowledge through clinical research and the incorporation of EBP (AACN, 1999a, 2006). This evolution led to the recognition that clinical scholarship was just as important as academic research in advancing nursing knowledge and improving patient care.
One of the most significant developments in modern nursing education has been the establishment of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. The DNP program is designed to prepare nurses to become leaders in EBP by translating nursing research into practice and applying new knowledge to improve clinical decision-making (Terry, 2012). This development has further solidified the importance of scholarship in both academic and clinical nursing settings.
Effects of Social and Political Factors on Nursing Scholarship
Nursing, like all healthcare professions, is deeply affected by social and political factors. These influences shape healthcare policies, funding for research, and the overall direction of nursing education. The 21st century has seen significant changes in healthcare, from the rise of patient-centered care to the increasing reliance on technology in clinical settings. These changes have created new challenges for the nursing profession, highlighting the need for ongoing scholarly inquiry.
- Social Influences
Social factors such as demographic shifts, changes in patient populations, and the growing demand for culturally competent care have all affected nursing scholarship. As patient demographics become more diverse, nursing educators must focus on scholarship that addresses the unique needs of different populations. This includes conducting research on health disparities, developing curricula that emphasize cultural competence, and creating strategies to improve patient outcomes in underserved communities.In addition, the rise of chronic diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular conditions, has created a need for scholarship that focuses on managing long-term conditions. Nursing scholars are now tasked with developing evidence-based practices that improve the quality of life for patients with chronic illnesses, while also educating future nurses on the complexities of chronic disease management.
- Political Factors
Political factors, such as healthcare policy and funding for nursing research, also play a significant role in shaping the direction of nursing scholarship. Government policies that prioritize certain areas of healthcare, such as mental health or public health, influence the focus of nursing research and education. Furthermore, changes in healthcare funding can either support or hinder nursing scholarship. For example, reduced funding for nursing education programs can limit opportunities for scholarly activities, while increased investment in research grants can drive innovation in the field.Nurse educators and scholars must remain engaged with the political landscape to advocate for policies that support the advancement of nursing scholarship. This includes lobbying for increased funding for nursing research, as well as promoting the integration of EBP into healthcare policies.
- Technological Advancements
Technology has revolutionized healthcare in recent years, leading to significant changes in both nursing practice and education. The rise of electronic health records (EHRs), telehealth, and simulation-based learning has created new opportunities for nursing scholarship. Nurse educators are now focusing on how to best incorporate technology into both the classroom and clinical practice, while nursing researchers are exploring the impact of these technologies on patient care.Technological advancements have also created new challenges for nursing scholarship. Nurse scholars must examine the ethical implications of using technology in patient care, such as data privacy and the potential for bias in algorithm-driven healthcare decisions. By engaging in scholarly inquiry, nursing scholars can ensure that technology is used in ways that enhance patient outcomes without compromising ethical standards.
Conclusion: The Future of Nursing Scholarship
As healthcare continues to evolve, nursing scholarship will remain a vital component of the profession’s growth and development. The need for rigorous, evidence-based research and innovative teaching methods will only increase as nurses face new challenges in the delivery of care. Nurse educators and scholars must continue to engage in scholarly activities that advance the field, ensuring that nursing remains a dynamic, evidence-based profession capable of meeting the needs of future generations.
Through scholarship, the nursing profession can continue to push the boundaries of knowledge, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to the overall advancement of healthcare. Whether in the classroom, the clinical setting, or the research laboratory, scholarship in nursing education will remain a driving force in shaping the future of nursing.
This expanded article explores the different facets of nursing scholarship, from its initiation to the impact of social and political factors. It offers a comprehensive view of the role scholarship plays in advancing the nursing profession, providing a solid foundation for ongoing inquiry and innovation in nursing education.