Being an Insider Nurse Researcher: Navigating the Challenges and Benefits to Ensure Rigour

Abstract

Aim

To provide insights into the challenges and benefits of being an insider nurse researcher in case study research. To describe strategies used to maintain rigour and trustworthiness when conducting insider research.

Design

Case study with insider research methodology was used to evaluate a nurse-led supportive care model for patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and their caregivers.

Methods

This paper reports a reflection on using insider research within a clinical context, utilising reflexive techniques such as journaling and discussions with academic supervisors to mitigate subjectivity. Informed consent and confidentiality were maintained to ensure ethical integrity.

Results

The study found that insider research offers both challenges and benefits. The established therapeutic relationship with patients and caregivers provided a deep understanding but also posed risks of assumptions, role conflict, and bias toward positive responses.

Conclusion

Insider research was effective in evaluating a nurse-led model of care, providing unique insights from patients and caregivers. This discussion demonstrates the importance of reflexive practices and maintaining ethical rigour to balance roles and manage potential biases. The paper highlights both the challenges and benefits of insider research that may be helpful for other researchers.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

This study highlights the value of insider research in a nursing context, demonstrating how nurses can leverage therapeutic relationships to enhance patient and caregiver voices to inform evidence-based practice. It also provides practical guidance for researchers on reflexive practices to manage the potential for bias and role conflicts, and the maintenance of ethical standards to ensure the integrity and trustworthiness of the research process.

Impact

The study addressed the challenges and benefits of being an insider nurse researcher in the context of evaluating a nurse-led supportive care model for patients with COPD and their caregivers. While insider research can provide unique insights, it also poses risks of assumptions, role conflict, and bias. This paper describes how these can be mitigated through reflexive techniques and integration of outsider perspectives. Established nurse–patient therapeutic relationships facilitated deeper understanding in a research setting; however, they require careful management to avoid bias. Ethical integrity was maintained through informed consent, confidentiality, and reflexive journaling. The research will impact patients and caregivers by improving their access to timely and comprehensive supportive and palliative care and offers valuable strategies for other nurse researchers to enhance the quality and trustworthiness of insider research.

Patient or Public Contribution

The development of the model of care in this study is informed by ongoing evaluation from patients with COPD and their caregivers.