| 2003 |
|
YEAR BOOK |
Dublin City University
|
The Irish Nursing Minimum Data Set
- investigating the nursing contribution to health care
|
The first major study in the research programme is underway, leading to the development of an Irish Nursing Minimum Data Set (IMDS). In 2002-2003, the team carried out extensive data collection to investigate the clinical role of nurses in general and mental health nursing. A number of health service providers in Dublin and elsewhere have cooperated in this phase of the research. Twenty focus groups were held with experienced clinical nurses, and reviews made of the documentation related to nursing care. By listening to how nurses describe their contribution orally, and examining the formal documentation of care, the team will establish the patient problems, nursing activities, interventions and outcomes of care associated with nursing care. The team is also reviewing the applicability of other minimum data sets for nursing and measurement systems from other disciplines (e.g., medicine, psychology).
As the work continues into 2003-2004, further primary research will be carried out to validate the domains and processes of nursing care identified by the team. This approach integrates evidence-based, field-validated methodologies with a conceptually-driven style. The IMDS research will permit the team to join in the on-going international research debate regarding the most effective methods of measuring what happens in the health care environment.
Other researchers at the School of Nursing are carrying out funded multi-disciplinary research into disability, volunteering, services for users of illicit drugs and immunology.
Contact: Nicola Cooke, School of Nursing,
Dublin City University, Dublin 9; Tel: 01 700 5929;
E-mail: [email protected]