Evidence Based Practice: A Nursing Research Assignment

Abstract

Teaching a graduate-level nursing research course can be quite challenging, especially one that is offered online and asynchronously. One of the assignments required of master of science in nursing (MSN) students is to develop a paper that examines a clinical problem that might be improved by using research knowledge. Students are then required to review the studies in this problem area, summarize what is known and not known regarding this problem, and summarize the gaps in the literature. They then are to write a critique supporting or refuting this practice. This assignment has proven to be both challenging and rewarding for the MSN students. They often comment that they had no idea that the research was or was not available to support (or refute) their clinical practice. The lack of research in these clinical problem areas has led some students to conduct research in these areas.