Professor, Coordinator of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Allen College, Waterloo,
Iowa Sara L. Clutter, PhD, RN , Associate Professor of Nursing, Waynesburg University,
Waynesburg, Pennsylvania Jacalyn P. Dougherty, PhD, RN , Nursing Research Consultant, JP
Dougherty LLC, Aurora, Colorado Joanne T. Ehrmin, RN, COA-CNS, PhD, MSN, BSN ,
Professor, University of Toledo, College of Nursing, Toledo, Ohio Betsy Frank, PhD, RN,
ANEF , Professor Emerita, Indiana State University College of Nursing, Health, and Human
Services, Terre Haute, Indiana Tamara Kear, PhD, RN, CNS, CNN , Assistant Professor of
Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania Sharon Kitchie, PhD, RN , Adjunct
Instructor, Keuka College, Keuka Park, New York Madelaine Law rence, PhD, RN , Associate
Professor, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina Robin
Moyers, PhD, RN-BC, Nurse Educator, Carl Vinson VA Medical Center, Dublin. Discussion:
Understanding Nursing Research Building an Evidence-Based Practice, Georgia Sue E.
Odom, DSN, RN , Professor of Nursing, Clayton State University, Morrow, Georgia Teresa M.
O’Neill, PhD, APRN, RNC, Professor, Our Lady of Holy Cross College, New Orleans, Louisiana
Sandra L. Siedlecki, PhD, RN, CNS, Senior Nurse Scientist, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
Sharon Souter, PhD, RN, CNE, Dean and Professor, University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Belton,
Texas Molly J. Walker, PhD, RN, CNS, CNE, Professor, Angelo State University, San Angelo,
Texas Cynthia Ward, DNP, RN-BC, CMSRN, ACNS-BC, Surgical Clinical Nurse Specialist,
Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, Roanoke, Virginia Angela Wood, PhD, RN, Certified
High-Risk Prenatal Nurse, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Nursing, Carson-
Newman University, Jefferson City, Tennessee Fatma A. Youssef, RN, DNSc, MPH , Professor
Emerita, Marymount University, School of Health Professions, Arlington, Virginia Dedication
To all nurses who change the lives of patients through applying the best research evidence.
—Susan, Jennifer, and Nancy To my husband Jay Suggs who has provided me endless love
and support during my development of research textbooks over the last 30 years. —Susan
To my husband Randy Gray who is my love and my cheerleader. —Jennifer To my husband
Jerry who has supported all of my academic endeavors through 58 years of marriage. —
Nancy Preface Research is a major force in nursing, and the evidence generated from
research is constantly changing practice, education, and health policy. Our aim in
developing this essentials research text, Understanding Nursing Research: Building an
Evidence-Based Practice, is to create an excitement about research in undergraduate
students. The text emphasizes the importance of baccalaureate-educated nurses being able
to read, critically appraise, and synthesize research so this evidence can be used to make
changes in practice. A major goal of professional nursing and health care is the delivery of
evidence-based care. By making nursing research an integral part of baccalaureate
education, we hope to facilitate the movement of research into the mainstream of nursing.
We also hope this text increases student awareness of the knowledge that has been
generated through nursing research and that this knowledge is relevant to their practice.
Only through research can nursing truly be recognized as a profession with documented
effective outcomes for the patient, family, nurse provider, and healthcare system. Because of
this expanded focus on evidence-based practice (EBP), we have subtitled this edition
Building an Evidence-Based Practice. Developing a sixth edition of Understanding Nursing
Research has provided us with an opportunity to clarify and refine the essential content for