南丁格爾女士自克里米亞戰爭中以實證研究建立護理專業特質起，研究之重要性持續被重視，據國外護理專家分析，護理研究於專業化過程中，歷經邏輯實證典範（Positivist Paradigm）與自然典範（Naturalistic Paradigm）兩學派之影響，近30年其發展更為突出，除延續護理原有的理論概念探討外，也有許多不同專業領域之獨特構想並存，在以上研究成果引領下，致使護理專業領域進入整合期。未來發展趨勢為何？專家指出：唯有了解歷史演進方向，方能超越傳統研究的框架，深入專業核心價值，再配合歸納與演繹思維之運用，將可引導專業革新。本文將由介紹護理研究的歷史演進過程，進而推論護理研究未來發展趨勢。

　　　　　Empirical nursing research evolved slowly from the investigations of Florence Nightingale. During the past three decades we have put a great deal of our scientific effort into developing nursing knowledge. In research developmental process, logical empircism and historicism deeply affected our nursing discipline. The descipline of nursing contained may features including theory development and competing ideas. Going to a new milestone of nursing research, we must understand the historical development.