Synthesis of qualitative research and evidence-based nursing
The Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) Program offered by the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing expands on the philosophy of the undergraduate nursing program and contributes to the mission of the College of Education and Health Professions and the University of Arkansas. This program is built upon the Essentials of Master's Education in Nursing to provide students with a fuller understanding of the discipline so they may engage in higher level nursing practice and nursing leadership in a variety of settings. Graduates of the M.S.N. are prepared as executive nurse leaders, nurse educators, or clinical nurse specialists and are expected to contribute to the nursing profession through the application of knowledge and skills in evidence-based leadership, education, and clinical practice. Completion of the M.S.N. program provides the essential foundation for seamless academic progression into a research or practice-focused doctoral program.
The synthesis of qualitative research and evidence-based nursing.

Evidence-based nursing is central to nursing practice
Primary Areas of Faculty Research:Primary Areas of Faculty Research: placement, recruitment and retention of advanced practice nurses; emergency preparedness from a population health perspective; evidence-based nursing education, curriculum development and design; assessment and evaluation of student performance, recruitment and retention of nursing faculty and administrators, and academic leadership; improving outcomes in trauma care; obesity, PCORI, and community engaged research; migrant childhood health; lactation assessment and education; transitional care; advanced practice nurses’ work environments, their interface among rural and underserved populations, and their impact on health care outcomes; adolescent resilience and violence prevention, qualitative methods; advanced illness care; advanced care planning; spirituality in heart failure; ageism; health coaching; qualitative and mixed methods.
The role of qualitative research within an evidence-based ..
Some view research as falling into a hierarchy with the highest level of the strength of research being systematic reviews and meta-analyses. From this perspective, the next levels of evidence from highest to lowest are: RCT; quasi-experimental studies; case-control and cohort studies; pre-experimental group studies; surveys; and qualitative studies (McNeece & Thyer, 2004). A number of organizations have attempted to develop objective evidence grading systems to rate the strength of evidence for interventions. For example, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare () has developed a detailed six-level system. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has convened a multidisciplinary roundtable on evidence-based medicine that is exploring multiple issues including examination of the lack of consistency in assessing the strength of evidence regarding what works . For more information, visit .
