Open access peer-reviewed chapter
1. Introduction: Nursing – Views from research and practice
1.1 Nursing in a constantly changing healthcare landscape
As population needs and disease patterns continue to change and evolve over time, nursing practice must also adapt and transform in order to effectively meet these shifting healthcare and population requirements [1, 2]. In many countries around the world, there has been a notable shift in disease patterns, moving away from primarily acute diseases towards a growing prevalence of chronic, non-communicable diseases. One prominent example is type 2 diabetes, which is now increasingly recognised and regarded as a significant public health emergency [3, 4, 5, 6]. In regions such as Europe, demographic changes have also resulted in a substantial increase in the proportion of older adults within the population, thereby requiring healthcare systems to adapt and respond to these new demographic realities [7, 8].
Although these changing demographic and disease patterns are likely to present significant and complex challenges to healthcare systems worldwide, one of the most pressing issues is the ongoing shortage of nursing professionals. This shortage is widely seen as one of the factors that can hinder or slow down the necessary transformations within healthcare systems [9, 10]. In addition, rapid technological advancements in the treatment and care of individuals are expected to introduce a range of financial, security, policy, and ethical challenges, likely affecting the nursing practice [11]. As healthcare systems continue to evolve in response to these challenges and the changing needs of populations, there is a growing need for collaborative interprofessional working practices and the development of innovative policies. Such approaches are essential for identifying and implementing effective solutions [10, 11].
As one of the largest and most essential groups of healthcare professionals worldwide, nurses are not immune to the challenges associated with adapting to evolving population needs [7, 9]. Even though the global number of nurses is on the rise, significant inequalities persist in terms of the population’s access to nursing care [7]. Despite these regional differences in access, nurses continue to provide care to individuals and communities across a wide variety of settings. Therefore, it is crucial that nurses possess a broad, evidence-based set of skills that underpin their practice and enable them to deliver high-quality care [12, 13, 14]. Nurses are increasingly expected to take on a diverse range of roles, which may include direct patient care, public education, and active participation in multidisciplinary teams (e.g., [15]).
1.2 Research and education in supporting nurses in navigating to the changing healthcare landscape
Evidence-based practice serves as a valuable tool that can support nurses in making informed decisions and driving quality improvement across different healthcare settings and situations [13]. Research plays a crucial and foundational role in advancing evidence-based practice, while nursing education is essential for disseminating research evidence and best practices to nurses in the field [7, 16, 17]. Nurse educators, in particular, play a vital role in applying new knowledge and skills within nursing education, thereby assisting the profession in adapting to the ever-changing healthcare environment [7, 16, 17, 18]. This book critically examines the field of nursing research and places a strong emphasis on how both research and education underpin the provision of high-quality care across diverse populations.
In 1860, Florence Nightingale, who is often regarded as the founder of modern nursing, asserted that, at its core, the role of nursing is to alter and improve the environment in order to promote health and support the healing process. As a result, when modern nursing was first emerging, health promotion and disease prevention were key themes that formed the foundation of its holistic approach [19]. Contemporary definitions provided by the International Council of Nurses for the terms “Nurse” and “Nursing” highlight the profession as one that is grounded in a unique combination of scientific knowledge, technical skills, ethical principles, and therapeutic relationships with individuals who require nursing care [20]. In today’s understanding, nursing requires a strong foundation of science-based knowledge in order to provide health and care services to populations across the entire lifespan [20]. Furthermore, nurses are expected to continuously build and maintain their capacities and skills through ongoing professional development, which encompasses research, education, and the consideration of best practices [20].
2. What can be found in this book
As emphasised by the International Council of Nurses, research in nursing is a fundamental and indispensable element in the ongoing advancement of nursing practice [20]. This book seeks to make a small but meaningful contribution to the continued development of nursing practice by highlighting themes relevant to evidence-based practice, including technological innovation, research on nursing education and practice, and valuable insights from real-world practice. Taken together, the chapters highlight the need for interdisciplinary working practices in nursing and how research can identify challenges and potential solutions to the identified problems. Finally, the chapters emphasise the diversity of roles that nurses can work and thus support individuals across their lifespan.
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