Dont miss the science

I am disturbed by the bizarre attitude that I have seen, a number of times, in the comments section of this blog about leaving medical research interpretation to "the scientists".

It's as if science is some kind of sacrosanct thing that no one who isn't a card-carrying member of some secret scientific priesthood should be allowed to even bring up in a discussion. However, we're all introduced to science as a hands-on thing in grammar school, with hopes that it'll engender a love of the discipline and a comfort level with the topic.

Maybe science education will inspire a kid enough to grow up and become a scientist, or be involved in a science-based profession. It seems like we really need that here in the US, since we are lagging dreadfully behind other nations in terms of math and science education. The snarky "hands-off" attitude is partly to blame.

The truth is, science is a system for understanding and interacting with our world, and it is our birthright. Some of us are better at it, and more trained in it, than others. Not all of us get to wear the label of "scientist," and that's for good reason. But all of us have a right to discuss scientific topics, for Pete's sake.

It's just weird to assert that with all the science we learn in grade school, high school, college, and some of us in nursing school or other professional training, now we're supposed to shut down our brains and zip our lips and not even talk about it. Really? Not even to increase our understanding?
The fact is that with the huge, much-needed trend toward evidence-based practice of nursing and other medical disciplines, it is absolutely necessary, and an important part of the nursing profession, to read and interpret studies. This helps us question, understand the reasons for, and potentially modify what we're doing in our day-to-day practice accordingly
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I can absolutely substantiate that this is true, if only because there are whole chapters in many Fundamentals of Nursing books about the nurse's role in research and studies. It is a concept introduced early and encouraged often for nursing students and for new nurses. In fact, research is an entire field of the nursing profession.

It is a critical part of the role of the nurse to read and understand scientific studies so we can interpret and explain their implications in an understandable way to clients and patients, as well as the loved ones accompanying them on their journey toward better health.