6.7: The Scientific Method in Nursing Process

The scientific method provides the foundation for any research. It is the most reliable and objective of all forms of gaining knowledge and guides in applying research-based evidence in practice and conducting future research.

When using research findings to change practice, one must understand the process used to guide a study. The scientific method is a systematic, step-by-step process that supports the data's validity, reliability, and generalizability. As a result, findings can be safely applied to similar subjects in other research.

Researchers use the scientific method in nursing to understand, explain, predict, or control nursing phenomena. Systematic, orderly procedures reduce the possibility of error. Although this possibility always exists, the scientific method minimizes the chance that a researcher's bias will influence the study's results. Most of the time, the information used in nursing practice is taken from other disciplines, such as biology, physiology, and psychology. Often nurses apply this information to their practice without testing it. For example, nurses facilitate a distraction-free environment to help patients sleep.

The scientific method is the reasoning-based problem-solving approach. Nurses and healthcare providers often use this method to solve clinical problems.

It involves seven steps— observation, gathering data, formulating a hypothesis, prediction, testing the hypothesis, evaluation, and conclusion.

Let's take an example of a bedridden patient.

The nurse observes red patches on the skin and notes down swelling, or any signs of infection around the affected areas.

Based on the data collected, she makes a hypothesis that this may have occurred due to the pressure exerted on the bony prominences when lying in the same position for a prolonged period.

The nurse then predicts that the redness can be prevented by reducing the pressure.

Next, she tests her hypothesis and decides to change the patient's position every two hours.

Finally, she evaluates the findings by comparing the skin condition before and after the intervention.

If the redness is reduced, the nurse can successfully conclude and continue the intervention.

However, if the results are unsatisfactory, the nurse must form a new hypothesis.