Date of Award
Spring 1986
Document Type
Thesis - Restricted
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Schank, Mary Jane
Second Advisor
Theis, Charlotte
Third Advisor
Pinkerton, Sue Ellen
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the research role of the nurse executive in acute-care facilities with Standard VII of the ANA Standards for Organized Nursing Services (1982). The population was 143 nurse executives of acute-care facilities in the state of Wisconsin accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation Hospitals. A response rate of 66% was obtained. A questionnaire developed by the researcher was utilized for data collection. Frequency distributions, percentages and chi-squares were used to analyze the data. Based on the analysis of data, the seven criteria outlined in the ANA Standard VII are not being met by the majority of nurse executives in acute-care facilities in the state of Wisconsin. The data indicated that nurse executives who worked in hospitals with over 200 beds and attained a masters or higher degree tended to meet the criteria of ANA Standard VII to a greater extent than those nurse executives who worked in smaller hospitals and who had less than a masters degree. In the opinion of the nurse executives, there was little understanding of the research process by general nursing staff, although they indicated nursing research was being conducted. Research conducted internal to the institution is used more frequently in making changes than research conducted external to the institution. Few collaborative research projects are being conducted. An interesting finding was that only half of the respondents had a procedure or protocol directed at protecting human subjects, and only one-fourth had a research committee or protocol. The data also revealed a lack of resources available for conducting nursing research. These included money, knowledge, and staff as well as incentives for doing research. The most important motivating factor related to research, in the opinion of the respondents, was quality of care. It should be noted that the majority in the population held less than a masters degree and were employed in institutions with fewer than 100 beds.
Recommended Citation
Timmons, Susan S., "A Comparison of the Research Role of Nurse Executives in Theory and in Practice in Acute-Care Facilities in the State of Wisconsin" (1986). Master's Theses (1922-2009) Access restricted to Marquette Campus. 3721.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/theses/3721