Collaboration: Does It Require Pragmatic Thought?

The authors of this column consider the subject of collaboration in terms of healthcare practice, research, and education. To that end, the concept of pragmatism is discussed as a precursor to collaboration followed by consideration of specific instances of collaboration in practice, research, and education. Additionally, the consequences of collaboration are discussed.

Transformative Research: A New Frontier for Nursing?

In this column, the definition of transformational research is explored followed by a discussion of mixed methods as the preferred process for those who conduct such studies. Finally, there is consideration of why transformational research may be useful and a natural approach for the specific concerns of the profession of nursing.

Traditional or Translational Research for Nursing: More PhDs Please.

In this column, the authors focus on the need for more PhD-prepared nurses as opposed to nurses receiving the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). This would help to to facilitate an understanding between traditional research and translational research. The idea of a need for collaboration between these two terminal degrees is highlighted. To that end, the history and intent of the research doctorate and the practice doctorate are entertained along with a brief description of the traditional and translational research processes.

Quality of life: input or outcome?

The focus of this column is to provide a brief overview of several conceptual analyses of quality of life along with their resulting definitions. A discussion of the more specific construct of health-related quality of life in terms of chronic illness is considered followed by an in-depth review of health-related quality of life measurement instruments. Finally, the idea of health-related quality of life considered as input to decision-making instead of designated as an outcome measure is proposed.

Nursing in a complex world: a case for grand theory.

The authors of this column put forth a call for more grand theory to be used as the basis of nursing research. To that end, complexity theory and the Neuman systems model are reviewed followed by a discussion of the links that occur between them. Then evidence of the increased use of middle-range theory as the foundation of current nursing research is put forth. Finally, there is a discussion about the authors' conclusion that the complexity of the phenomena of interest for nursing research requires theories to be used as underpinnings that are more abstract and less reductionistic.

Preceptors and new graduate nurse orientees: implications of psychological type compatibility.

The relationship between preceptor and new graduate nurse (NGN) orientee can be a critical factor in NGNs' satisfaction with choice of profession and place of employment. A research study was conducted with NGN orientees (n = 218) and preceptors (n = 159) to investigate characteristics of psychological type as determined by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Preliminary descriptive data regarding participants' Myers-Briggs Type Indicator characteristics is presented, and suggestions are offered for working with orientees during orientation in both classroom sessions and clinical units.

The research environment: the challenge of getting true data.

The environment in which research is conducted can present many challenges to data collection. This is the story of a research project that was designed to investigate the influence of personality type on the satisfaction of preceptors and new graduate nurses with the orientation process. Despite many adaptations in the data collection protocol, the researchers were not able to obtain enough data from participants to answer the research question. Challenges presented by the data collection site are described and suggestions are offered for consideration.

Learning style preference and student aptitude for concept maps.

Acknowledging that individuals' preferences for learning vary, faculty in an undergraduate nursing program questioned whether a student's learning style is an indicator of aptitude in developing concept maps. The purpose of this research was to describe the relationship between nursing students' learning style preference and aptitude for concept maps. The sample included 120 undergraduate students enrolled in the adult health nursing course. Students created one concept map and completed two instruments: the Learning Style Survey and the Concept Map Survey. Data included Learning Style Survey scores, grade for the concept map, and grade for the adult health course. No significant difference was found between learning style preference and concept map grades. Thematic analysis of the qualitative survey data yielded further insight into students' preferences for creating concept maps.