Results of the 2012 NONPF Research SIG Survey and Implications for Future Research

Nurse practitioner faculty researchers are in a unique position to conduct research, because of their close proximity to academic institutions, patient care and their vast experiences with multiple populations, and health related conditions. To further understand the current status of nurse practitioner faculty research, a survey was sent to the NONPF membership to document the type of research being conducted by the members. 

The 2012 NONPF Research SIG Survey descriptive study utilized a web-based survey which was developed with input from NONPF members. This 23-question (open and close-ended) survey included demographic, academic and research-related questions. For this study, research was defined as the discovery of knowledge that is or can be applied to real life health care settings. If participants had conducted research within the last ten years, they were asked about their participation in quantitative, qualitative, clinical outcome or other types of research. E-mails were sent to NONPF members (1,575 potential subjects) providing a Survey Monkey link. Frequency distributions and measures of central tendency and variability were calculated, as well as detailed exploratory descriptive analyses.

Of the 348 NONPF members who responded, 73.2% were between the ages of 50 and 69. Participants in the sample were at minimum masters prepared with 44.2% having a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing and 21.6% having a Doctor of Nursing Practice. Of the respondents, 85.2% reported they had conducted research in the last ten years. The quantitative research methods most reported used were descriptive and exploratory. Focus groups were the most widely used qualitative approach. For clinical outcome research, patient health care was checked most frequently. There was no significant evidence that the quantitative, qualitative, clinical outcomes, as well as other research methods differed significantly between the different specialty groups.

To continue to grow research contributions among NONPF members it will be important to support junior faculty in their research efforts, as well as foster knowledge generation and application collaboration of PhD and DNP scholars. Encouraging understanding of advanced research methods to examine the complex interplay of biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors is also critical.