Overview
Having research skills allows nurses to work to deliver the best care possible for all the people that we care for.
This course introduces the fundamental concepts of research – what each nurse needs to know to influence and contribute to evidence-informed practice change.
Developed by the VCCC Alliance, the scenarios and examples provided are cancer-related. However, the knowledge gained, and skills developed can be applied to any clinical setting.
Designed For
This course has been developed for clinical nurses who want to establish or strengthen essential research skills.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the eleven course modules and self-assessment activities, learners will be able to:
- Appreciate the importance of research skills for clinical nurses
- Develop a research question to address gaps in clinical practice
- Understand principles of research integrity and ethics
- Understand the importance of consumers in research and the principles of consumer engagement
- Recognise different research approaches and identify the most appropriate method to answer a research question
- Appreciate that there are different ways of collecting and analysing data that need to align with a chosen research approach
- Understand the principles of how to implement evidence into practice.
Course Units
This course requires approximately 20 hours of study and assessment.
Module 0: Study Guide
Module 1: Getting started: an introduction to nurse-led research
Module 2: Literature searching and reference management
Module 3: Types of literature reviews and critical appraisal
Module 4: How to conduct a literature review
Module 5: The fundamentals of qualitative research
Module 6: The fundamentals of quantitative research
Module 7: The fundamentals of mixed methods research
Module 8: Principles of qualitative analysis
Module 9: Principles of quantitative analysis
Module 10: Principles of implementation science
Module 11: The next steps on your research journey
Assessment
Learners are engaged through video, case examples, interactive and self-assessment activities which support and reinforce learning.
Delivery Mode
The course is delivered online and can be accessed via any web browser or mobile phone.
Endorsements
This course is endorsed by ACN according to our Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Endorsed Course Standards. It has been allocated 20 CPD hours according to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia – Continuing Professional Development Standard.
Course Directors
Professor Mei Krishnasamy
PhD, FAAN, Research and Education Lead - Cancer Nursing, VCCC Alliance
Mei is the Research and Education Lead for Cancer Nursing at the VCCC Alliance. Mei is also the Professor of Nursing at the University of Melbourne and honorary Professor of Cancer Nursing at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. She is past President of the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia and the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia. Her research focuses on cancer supportive care, health equity and experiences of care for people with poor prognosis cancers, and the contribution of nurses to patient and system-level outcomes.
Course Designers
Dr Sharon De Graves
PhD, Program Manager Nurse-led Research at the VCCC Alliance
Sharon is the Program Manager of Nurse-Led Research at the VCCC Alliance. She has a nursing career that spans over 25 years with a background in paediatric and adolescent oncology and cancer nursing more broadly. She has expertise in the fields of nursing research, education, leadership, and management. Sharon is passionate about developing opportunities and supporting nurses to integrate research and critical inquiry into their everyday practice.
Dr Yaping Zhong
PhD, Online course development coordinator at the VCCC Alliance
Dr Yaping Zhong is an early career nurse researcher and academic. She has experience as a former
university lecturer in China. After pursuing a PhD in Australia, she has been undertaking research-related work and teaching at universities.
Module contributors:
- Geoff Hill (module 2), Clinical Librarian, Royal Melbourne Hospital
- Associate Professor Stephanie Best (module 10), Senior Research Lead: Implementation Science – Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre: VCCC Alliance: Australian Genomics
Course reviewers:
- Sharan Ermel, Consumer representative, VCCC Alliance
- George Kiossoglou, Consumer representative, VCCC Alliance, WEHI, RMH, and MACH
- Jake McMahon, Clinician Researcher, St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne
- Alicia Mew, e-Learning Developer, VCCC Alliance
- Dr Donna Milne, Nurse consultant Melanoma and Skin Service, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
- Irene Moravski, Program Coordinator – Nurse-Led Research, VCCC Alliance
- Kyleigh Smith, Associate Head, Education, VCCC Alliance
Contact Us
E: mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
T: +61 3 8344 5673