A Delphi study on research priorities for emergency nurses in Western Australia.
BACKGROUND
The Delphi Study on Research Priorities for Emergency Nurses in Western Australia Project was designed to allow emergency nurses to design research questions and then rank them in order of priority.


METHODS
A qualitative methodology allowed the researchers to determine expert opinions from the membership of the Emergency Nurses Association of Western Australia to reach a general consensus related to research questions.


RESULTS
The results placed nurse-initiated analgesia as the top research priority, with ED staffing issues in second place and ED violence issues in third place. In all, 25 research questions were developed and ranked according to priority.


CONCLUSIONS
Development of these ranked research questions enables researchers not only to pick a research question "off the shelf" but also to be assured that the research question is clinically relevant and is a priority for practicing emergency nurses. These attributes will encourage potential researchers to conduct studies, but they also underscore the importance of the topics for the benefit of those who fund studies.
Rodger
Martin
M
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Emergency Department. mrodger@westnet.com.au
Hills
Jacqueline
J
Kristjanson
Linda
L
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D002983:Clinical Competence; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D003697:Delphi Technique; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014904:Western Australia