護理研究的方向，永遠與當時代護理實務及社會需要，有密切關係。美國未來護理 研究方向，將著重在增進全民健康及預防疾病；以社區為中心；以家庭為單位的健康照顧服 務系統，尤其著重在危險人口?及偏遠地區人口；價格－效益；護理成果量表的設計及測試； 以及建立和測試護理理論的研究。

　　　　　The trends in nursing research, whether past, present or even the future are always affected by the contents of nursing practice and the needs of the public at the time. The priorities of future nursing research in the United States will be; health promotion and disease prevention for all races, community and home-based health care, especially in vulnerable populations and rural areas, cost-effectiveness of nursing services, nursing outcome research, especially nursing intervention outcomes along with generating and testing nursing therapy.