Evidence-based practice (EBP) is a decision-making framework that combines the best available research evidence with a nurse’s clinical expertise and the patient’s individual values and preferences. Nurses use EBP to evaluate, apply and continuously improve care, making research an essential skill for every practicing nurse.
Nurses provide direct care to their patients every day, so they know which approaches work well and which need adjusting. Questioning standard procedure and looking for ways to improve it is an essential trait of a caring, competent practitioner. This commitment to refining nursing practices is at the heart of nursing research. Research skills are so important to the field that nursing research is a core element of study in programs like the online Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program from the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW).
What Is Nursing Research?
Rigorous nursing research builds the body of knowledge that advances nursing practice. According to the Mayo Clinic, “The primary purpose of nursing research is to create science that informs nursing practice, allowing nurses to provide the best care to their patients.” The findings of that scientific inquiry also help shape health policy and contribute to global healthcare improvement.
Nursing research uncovers knowledge that builds the foundation of clinical practice and reinforces the goals of the profession. The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) organizes its 2022–2026 strategic plan around five research priority areas that address the most pressing healthcare challenges nurses and society face today:
- Health equity
- Social determinants of health
- Population and community health
- Prevention and health promotion
- Systems and models of care
Nurses use research to produce better outcomes for patients and for others within the healthcare system. As patient needs grow more complex and healthcare settings more varied, nurses apply evidence-based practice to adapt and improve care by combining research findings with clinical expertise and patient preferences. Nurses may conduct their own research, apply existing research in daily practice or teach others using established findings.
5 Steps of Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing
Evidence-based practice follows a structured process that helps nurses turn a clinical question into an actionable improvement in care. Nursing schools widely recognize these five steps, sometimes called the “5 As”:
- Ask: Identify a clinical problem and frame it as a clear, answerable question. The PICO framework (Patient/Problem, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome) helps structure the question for efficient research.
- Acquire: Search the literature for the best available evidence. This includes peer-reviewed studies, clinical guidelines and systematic reviews relevant to the question.
- Appraise: Critically evaluate the evidence for its validity, reliability and applicability to the specific patient or population.
- Apply: Integrate the appraised evidence with clinical expertise and the patient’s values and circumstances to inform the care decision or practice change.
- Assess: Evaluate the outcomes of the applied change. Did it improve care? This step closes the loop and may generate new questions for the next cycle.
Scientific Inquiry in Nursing Practice
There are several practical categories of nursing research, with common examples being clinical research, nursing education research, and health systems and outcomes research. Clinical research examines care for individuals across their entire lives, and nurses can carry out this work in any clinical setting. Nursing education research explores how students learn the nursing profession. Health systems and outcomes research focuses on the quality, quantity and cost of healthcare services, including how to improve care delivery.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that registered nurses held about 3.4 million jobs in 2024, with the profession projected to grow 5% from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations. About 189,100 openings are expected each year over the decade, driven in part by growing demand for nurses who can manage chronic conditions and educate patients with complex needs. A workforce of that scale amplifies the impact of strong research practice: when evidence-based methods improve care outcomes at the individual nurse level, those improvements multiply across millions of patient interactions nationwide.
Role of Nursing Research in Online Programs
Students who enroll in UNCW’s online RN to BSN program will take a course called Research in Nursing. This course introduces research design and analysis, helping students learn how to examine, apply and use nursing science. Students receive an overview of current issues in knowledge development and explore how research findings connect to evidence-based practice.
Today’s healthcare system is complex, and patients have increasingly varied needs. Developing solutions for diverse populations requires providers who bring many different perspectives. Those who complete online nursing programs become professionals who understand why nursing research matters and how to incorporate it into their own practice, not just as students but throughout their careers.
Learn more about the UNCW online RN to BSN program.
Frequently Asked Questions About Research in Nursing
Why is research important in nursing?
Research is important in nursing because it generates the evidence that nurses use to make informed clinical decisions. Without a research foundation, nursing practice would rely on tradition and personal experience alone. Research improves patient outcomes, reduces healthcare costs and helps nurses adapt to new health challenges, all while raising the professional credibility of the discipline.
What is evidence-based practice in nursing?
Evidence-based practice (EBP) in nursing is a decision-making approach that integrates the best available research evidence with a nurse’s clinical expertise and the patient’s individual values and preferences. Nurses use EBP to evaluate current practices, identify opportunities for improvement and implement changes supported by scientific evidence.
How does nursing research improve patient outcomes?
Nursing research identifies which interventions work, which carry unnecessary risk, and where gaps in care exist. By applying research findings to clinical decisions, nurses can use treatments shown to be effective, reduce complications and tailor care to specific patient populations. This cycle of inquiry and application directly supports better patient health outcomes.
What are the types of nursing research?
The main types of nursing research are clinical research, which examines care for individuals across care settings; nursing education research, which studies how students learn the profession; and health systems and outcomes research, which focuses on the quality, cost and delivery of healthcare services. Research can also be categorized as quantitative, qualitative or mixed-methods depending on how data is gathered and analyzed.
What is the role of a nurse in research?
Nurses play several roles in research. They may serve as principal investigators who design and lead studies, as research participants who provide clinical insight or as research consumers who critically evaluate and apply published findings in their practice. BSN-prepared nurses are trained to understand and use research, while advanced degree programs prepare nurses to generate original research.
How do nurses use evidence-based practice?
Nurses use EBP by following the five-step process: asking a clinical question, acquiring relevant evidence, appraising that evidence for quality and applicability, applying it to patient care alongside clinical judgment and patient preferences and then assessing whether the change produced the expected outcome. This structured approach ensures that care decisions are grounded in science rather than assumption.
What is NINR and why does it matter to nurses?
The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Its mission is to lead nursing research that addresses pressing health challenges and informs practice and policy. NINR funds studies, trains researchers and publishes a strategic plan, currently covering 2022 through 2026, that defines priority research areas for the profession. For practicing nurses, NINR’s work provides a continuous stream of evidence that shapes best practices at the bedside.
About UNCW’s Online RN to BSN Program
The University of North Carolina Wilmington offers its Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program in a fully online, accelerated format built for working nurses. The School of Nursing has been preparing nursing professionals for more than four decades, and courses are taught by faculty who bring real-world nursing experience into the classroom. With six start dates offered throughout the year, students can begin the program when it fits their schedule rather than waiting for a single enrollment window.
Coursework covers contemporary issues in professional nursing practice, gerontological nursing, community health nursing, and core concepts of leadership and management, including the Research in Nursing course that anchors the evidence-based practice skills covered in this article. The program’s baccalaureate nursing degree is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and students can complete their degree in as few as 12 months. Learn more about the UNCW online RN to BSN program.
