At the 2024 AMSN Convention, Lariea Morrow MSN, APRN-CNS, AGCNS-BC, CMSRN, co-presented the “Enteral Nutrition Feeding Tubes: Rounds, Recommendations, and Best Practices, Oh My!” poster, which involved the creation of a template for enteral nutrition rounding to reinforce best practices. In this Q&A, Morrow discusses the value of research, her contributions to nursing research, and how other medical-surgical nurses can pursue research studies.

What is the value of research?

Research is a word that I realize I did not respect prior to advancing in my career. I did not have time for the “R” word or the bandwidth to seek a mentor in research. All I cared about was patient care, not making the connection that research produces the evidence, and it drives patient care. Since I’m a lifelong learner and I’m utilizing research more in my career, research is more than just data. Research is a powerful tool for system transformation, innovation, and impact. Whether in academia, healthcare, leadership, or community service, research goes across all dimensions. I have learned to appreciate the research process and what it yields.

How is your research making an impact, big or small, or how do you anticipate it will make a difference?

My focus in research is nursing communication. As a nurse, I value clarity, compassion, and connection. I am passionate about nursing legislative advocacy; nursing practice; mental health, specifically vicarious trauma; nursing informatics; and, importantly, the nurse’s perspective. Nursing is slow to change. I want to know how we can make it better for everyone involved. 

My research impact currently is involved in two research projects. I am the principal investigator for “Communication methods, communication satisfaction, and early awareness of non-urgent documentation changes for acute care nurses” and a co-investigator for a multi-hospital vaccine study pending IRB approval. My research on communication methods is a multi-hospital cross-sectional, descriptive correlational design with survey methodology for inpatient RNs and LPNs. As the data pours in, I’ll be able to contribute to the body of literature on how nurses prefer to communicate as healthcare shifts with electronic tools. 

What did you enjoy most about your poster work?

I enjoyed how our project evolved, the collaboration between nurses and the care team (as needed), and our prompt identification of practice gaps. Finally, I valued how new knowledge challenged my daily practice. It was a great learning experience. 

Do you anticipate conducting further research on this topic, and if so, what are your next steps?

My most recent involvement with a poster presentation at AMSN was “Enteral Nutrition Feeding Tubes: Rounds, Recommendations, and Best Practices, Oh My!” There are no current plans to conduct further research on the topic. Since my involvement with this project, other groups have been developed to tackle issues regarding enteral nutrition, and I participate on those committees.

Are there other research topics that you’d like to pursue in the future, and if so, what excites you most about that potential work?

I am currently investigating additional research topics related to nursing communication. One ongoing project involves the standardization of the shift-to-shift report (also known as handoff) throughout the organization using an electronic tool. My commitment to advancing effective nursing communication drives my research, and I look forward to its potential impact on the future of nursing practice. Regardless of any outcome, I am confident that my work will contribute meaningfully to literature and serve as a valuable resource for future developments in the nursing field. 

What advice do you have for other medical-surgical nurses who are considering pursuing a research study?

To my novice researchers, reflect on the reasons you chose a career in nursing. While financial considerations may have played a role, they were likely not your sole motivation. Each of us began this journey at different points in our lives, so it is important to remember your purpose. Pursue your passion and what you value, as research is a long-term commitment. There are numerous roles available in research, and contributing does not necessarily require you to be a lead investigator; you may, for example, enjoy supporting data collection efforts.