Abstract
This is the ninth issue of the Nordic Journal of Nursing Research, previously known in the Nordic countries as Vård i Norden. Before I comment briefly on the articles published in this issue, I want to extend a warm welcome to three new members to the Editorial Board: Professor Sally Chan is dean of the School of Nursing, at the University of Newcastle, NSW Australia; Professor Nancy Moules is at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, AB Canada; and Professor Henrik Eriksson is vice-dean of research at the Swedish Red Cross University College in Stockholm. Their international research expertise and excellent academic merits will enhance the journal’s aim of communicating Nordic nursing research globally. Publications by this journal of nursing research, with roots in other countries, can only have a positive effect on Nordic nursing research. The exchange of knowledge and research collaboration should be considered a ‘win-win’ situation.
There are eight articles in this issue. To comment on these, I ask, are there any similarities in the studies? My attempt at a meta-analysis of the content of the articles, which was initially difficult, revealed that ‘patient safety’ may be an underlying theme in almost all the studies. Although the research questions and methodologies of the studies vary, the studies on pain, pressure damage caused by endotracheal tubes, telephone counselling, or the importance of a continuum of care involve several dimensions of safety. ‘Safety’ in the context of healthcare has different meanings. From a patient perspective it may mean feeling protected and secure, trusting that the care provided will not cause harm to oneself. That is, an existential dimension. From a nursing perspective, safety means that knowledge of and insight into the patient’s need to feel safe should guide how to respond to that need.
I hope these articles inspire further empirical research within the domain of patient safety with the goal that both the patient and the nursing perspectives will be integrated into nursing practice and nursing education. This leads me to comment on the last article, ‘Research is not a “scary” word: Registered nurses and the barriers to research utilisation’. In this Australian study, most nurses found research articles difficult to understand. If registered nurses can neither understand nor read a research article about, for example, patient safety there is work to be done in overcoming barriers to research utilisation.