How Awesome Are Nurses?

If you know me, you know that ‘awesome’ is a word I rarely use.

It’s trite and usually undeserved. But, when you’re talking about nurses, it’s the word to use. Nurses are fantastic. They work so hard and care so much. And they do it under very challenging conditions. Burnout rates among nurses are high, and there’s a longstanding global nurse shortage, creating extremely difficult circumstances at the point of care .

Evolutionary psychology tells us that our high regard of nurses is hardwired into us—we naturally revere those who provide care and nurturance. But there’s more to it than just that. Nurses are skilled, knowledgeable professionals.

I’ve been doing a lot of healthcare research over the past few years, and have interviewed many nurses. Of all the types of people I talk to as a researcher, they may be my favorite. They’re also underutilized as research participants. However, if you’re going to get the most out of qualitative research among nurses, there are few things to keep in mind.

Before we get into that, allow me to do a bit more gushing about nurses.

They’re knowledgeable. Nurses regularly impress me with their command of their therapeutic areas. Whether it’s understanding the side effects of dozens of medications, or knowing the ins-and-outs of all the equipment and devices needed for patient care, nurses are walking encyclopedias. Those not directly involved in patient care often don’t realize this, and thus don’t understand the value of including nurses in healthcare research.

They’re pragmatic. Nurses are among the most practical people you’ll ever meet, and are problem solvers by nature. They like to keep things simple, not looking to overcomplicate things. They don’t go for increased capability if there’s no clear benefit. This pragmatism is a major strength, but it does have implications for qualitative research.

Click this link to read some more of my gushing, as well as tips on getting the most out of qualitative research with nurses.