The truth is, if we want to stand shoulder to shoulder with our medical colleagues, we need to understand research and know how to use it in everyday practice. Without that confidence, our voice risks being lost. Decisions about patient care, service design, and policy may end up being shaped without meaningful nursing input. That leaves us reacting to change, rather than influencing it. And in today’s fast-moving healthcare world, that means nursing could be left behind.

Why research matters for newly registered nurses

Confidence in practice: Understanding research helps you make safe, informed decisions and gives you the assurance to stand by them.

Professional credibility: Being able to talk about evidence clearly helps you earn respect from colleagues and join wider healthcare debates.

Future leadership: Getting involved in research early on means you can help shape new knowledge, not just follow the lead of others.

Making research practical
Research doesn’t need to feel intimidating — and you don’t need a PhD to start engaging with it. Small steps can make a big difference:

• Learn the basics of judging research quality, so you can tell the difference between strong and weak evidence.
• Use simple tools like CASP checklists — the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme — which guide you through the process of analysing research papers. They use straightforward questions to help you decide whether a study is trustworthy, relevant, and applicable to your patients.
• Ask constructive questions about guidelines and policies, such as “What is this based on, and does it apply to my patients?”
• Translate research into care, making sure evidence isn’t left in journals but applied at the bedside.

Standing tall as a profession
If nursing is to have a strong voice nationally and internationally, we cannot afford to step back from research. For newly registered nurses, building confidence in evidence is about more than passing exams — it’s about shaping the kind of profession you want to belong to.

When we understand research, we are not only compassionate carers but also confident, informed professionals who can influence policy, practice, and the future of healthcare.
By starting your career with evidence at the centre, you’ll make sure nursing isn’t left behind — but instead leads the way.