Joanna Briggs Institute and Sigma Theta Tau International

Introduction

Medical knowledge is in a state of continuous change every day. This is due to advances in technology, innovations, and the ever-ending demand to find solutions to our health problems. Many diseases which were thought to have been eradicated from the world have in the recent past re-emerged while some new diseases which had never occurred before have emerged. This is due to the ever-changing climatical conditions and other factors leading to gene mutations thus change in the disease patterns. This has resulted in much attention being diverted to research on the medical issues at hand. Many institutions have joined hands to fund, moderate and restrict unethical research practices from being carried out which have detrimental effects on the subjects. In nursing, Evidence-Based Practice can be defined as the conscientious, explicit, and judicious use of the current evidence in making decisions about the best care of individual patients (Sackett et al, 1996 p.71). Nursing research consists of undertaking an inquiry into some clinical issues affecting patients with an intention of refining, extending, or developing nursing knowledge. This may be in developing a cure to certain ailments, finding the best clinical practice method with the least side effects and developing modern clinical apparatus to match the medical advances of the 21^st century. To undertake nursing research several resources are used to obtain the much-needed information. This research paper discusses Joanna Briggs Institute and Sigma Theta Tau International as key nursing resources and provides their importance in nursing research.

Joanna Briggs Institute

It is an initiative of research by the Royal Adelaide Hospital and the University of Adelaide. It networks with many collaborating centers in the world and it supports and enhances the application of evidence-based practice in nursing research. The collaborating centers all over the world hold forums yearly to discuss and come up with new titles of research of clinical interests. The JBI strives to conduct reviews and come up with information sheets for best practices for topics that are of concern to the nursing profession to improve clinical practice. These reviews are presided over by a panel of experts which includes nurses on practice who are experts in the areas and other health professionals who have the expertise in this field. The research of this institution has support from educational institutions like universities that conduct research, health care facilities and the students (University of Adelaide).

Benefits of JBI

1. It contributes to health care that is cost-effective through the promotion of evidence-based practice. This helps the nurses provide efficient clinical skills to the patients at the least cost.
2. This institution offers direct fees for service consultancies to health service provider agencies in developing customized evidence-based practice training and evidence-based clinical information.
3. It works in consultation with expert researchers and clinicians to facilitate the development of best practice information sheets that are based on research reviews. This serves as guidance for the practice of research in nursing.

Signa Theta Tau International

This organization was founded in 1922 at Indiana University and has helped nursing to be recognized as a major science just like medicine and the others. It is the second-largest organization in the world covering more than 90 countries (Fitzpatrick & Whall, 2004 p.50). It funds nursing research resulting in major projects and enhanced discoveries in the nursing profession. Its membership is through invitation and nursing students who have graduated with excellence are invited to join the baccalaureate. It sponsors nursing research in the United States and it is also involved with publishing journals (Honor Society of Nursing).

Benefits of STTI

1. In collaboration with grant partners, it has funded research on nursing through grants, scholarships and awards. This has enabled advances in the nursing profession in providing the best care to patients.
2. This organization has worked tirelessly in helping nurses all over the world to occupy positions of leadership through opening leadership programs for its members.
3. The organization sponsors its members annually to further their education thus has improved learning in the nursing profession.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is important to have concrete evidence which guides the decision-making process. It is for this that the nursing profession has been encouraged to undertake clinical research which guides them in decision making and deciding which path to follow in the provision of medical care to patients. Several organizations that provide useful information to the nursing profession have emerged to support this profession. The JBI provides guidelines for ensuring evidence-based practice while the STTI supports the profession by funding research and sponsoring its members for further education. It is a call for us to support these research resource institutions to improve the nursing care offered at our health care facilities. This will enhance our health and together we create a world free from suffering. As Max Planck once said that anybody who has been involved in scientific work of any type realizes that over the entrance to the gates of the temple of science are written the words: “you must have faith.”

References List

Fitzpatrick, J &Whall, A. (2004). Conceptual Models of Nursing: Analysis and Application. Kent: Prentice Hall

Sackett, D. L, et al (1996). Evidence based medicine: What it is and what it isn’t. British Medical Journal, 312, 71–72.

The University of Adelaide (2010). Evidence Based Practice: Joanna Briggs Institute. Discipline of Nursing. Web. 

The Honor Society of Nursing (2009). About the Foundation, Board of Directors, Mission and Annual report. Renew Today. Web.