NursingCAS
values of academic leadership on interdisciplinary collaboration (AACN, 1995), research (AACN, 1998), faculty practice (AACN, 1993), and education (AACN, 1997).
Scholarship in nursing can be defined as those activities that systematically advance the teaching, research, and practice of nursing through rigorous inquiry that 1) is significant to the profession, 2) is creative, 3) can be documented, 4) can be replicated or elaborated, and 5) can be peer-reviewed through various methods. This definition is applied in the following standards that describe scholarship in nursing.
The scholarship of discovery is inquiry that produces the disciplinary and professional knowledge that is at the very heart of academic pursuits (Boyer, 1990). Within nursing, the scholarship of discovery reflects the unique perspective of nursing that "takes an expanded view of health by emphasizing health promotion, restoration, and rehabilitation, as well as a commitment to caring and comfort (AACN, 1998, p.1)." The scholarship of discovery takes the form of primary empirical research, historical research, theory development and testing, methodological studies, and philosophical inquiry and analysis. It increasingly is interdisciplinary and collaborative in nature, across professional groups and within nursing itself.
Primary empirical research is the systematic collection of data to answer an empirical question or test an hypothesis. A variety of qualitative and quantitative designs is used, including experimental, quasi-experimental, descriptive, exploratory, case studies, and ethnography. Source materials include primary empirical measurements, observations and specimens, databases created for other purposes, and published reports of research.
Historical research includes original investigations using manuscripts, documents, oral narrative, and other printed and non-printed materials.
Theory development is the process of drawing together scientific and experiential knowledge, assumptions, and principles into a systematic set of statements that have explanatory and predictive power with respect to an area of experience. Scientific theories suggest explanations for phenomena that may be subjected to empirical tests.
Methodological studies include the development and testing of new or revised methods of inquiry that have utility in generating knowledge.
Philosophical inquiry in nursing is metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical and involves critical reasoning and argument that is systematic, rational, and critical. It seeks to answer questions related to the meaning of health and illness in the context of human life, how we acquire and evaluate knowledge, and the standards of conduct of life. Whether arguments are inductive or deductive in nature, assumptions are thoroughly examined and principles of logical thought and proof are followed.
peer-reviewed publications of research, theory, or philosophical essays;
presentations of research, theory, or philosophical essays;
grant awards in support of research or scholarship;
mentorship of junior colleagues in research or scholarship;
state, regional, national, or international recognition as a scholar in an identified area; and
positive peer evaluations of the body of work.
The scholarship of teaching is inquiry that produces knowledge to support the transfer of the science and art of nursing from the expert to the novice, building bridges between the teacher's understanding and the student's learning (Boyer, 1990). This scholarly approach supports the development of educational environments that embrace diverse learning styles, and increasingly, places the focus of education on the learner (Edgerton, 1997). Within nursing, the scholarship of teaching increases the effectiveness of the transfer of discipline-specific knowledge, and adds to deeper understanding of both the discipline and pedagogy. The scholarship of teaching is conducted through application of knowledge of the discipline or specialty area in the teaching-learning process, the development of innovative teaching and evaluation methods, program development, learning outcome evaluation, and professional role modeling.