A practical guide to publishing research for veterinary nurses

Veterinary nursing research is a relatively new area, particularly influenced by emphasis on nurses to evaluate their current practices and develop nursing techniques. In very recent years, there has been increased evidence of nurses publishing research, possibly due to the introduction of the veterinary nursing degrees where students complete dissertations in the final year. However, research should not be only completed by nurses completing the degree; there are many opportunities for nurses in practice to conduct quality research projects and publish them accordingly. This paper provides an overview of the considerations authors should make when preparing to submit a research paper for publication.

Although preparing a paper for publication can be one of the most difficult stages of completing a research project (Kurmis, 2003), it can also be regarded as one of the most important as publishing allows for research findings to be shared. Authors should consider the extent to which the research adds to current subject material, as this will allow for scientific advances (Chiswick, 2004). Through publishing research, authors can add new information to an existing body of knowledge, or add knowledge to a novel area of veterinary nursing. While it is anecdotally common for researchers to want to make ground breaking conclusions, it is perfectly acceptable to publish research which has produced similar findings to previous studies.