Olaitan charges Nurses on research, academic writing
By Mustafa Abubakar
The Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Ilorin, Prof. Olukunmi Lanre Olaitan, has urged postgraduate nursing students to embrace focused research, effective academic writing and time management to excel while balancing professional and family responsibilities.
Prof. Olaitan gave the advice last Tuesday (November 3, 2026), while delivering a keynote address titled, “Beyond the Bedside: Writing a Good Research Proposal, Academic Writing, Time Management and Work-Study Balance for Working Nurses,” at a two-day orientation for the 2026/2027 set of Master of Science (M.Sc.) Nursing postgraduate students.
The programme was designed to prepare the new students for the demands of postgraduate nursing education.
The Professor of Health Promotion and Environmental Health Education explained that a good research proposal should identify a specific problem, establish a knowledge gap, formulate focused research questions and adopt an appropriate methodology.
He advised students to keep their research manageable by focusing on a clearly defined problem rather than attempting to address several complex health challenges in one dissertation. He said a strong proposal must demonstrate the study’s relevance, feasibility and proposed method.
On academic writing, Prof. Olaitan encouraged students to move beyond descriptive accounts of clinical experiences to analytical, evidence based writing that demonstrates critical thinking and engagement with existing scholarship.
He advised them to write clearly and concisely, integrating relevant literature into their arguments rather than merely listing authors’ views. He also emphasised proper referencing and adherence to current American Psychological Association (APA) guidelines, warning that citation errors could undermine academic credibility.
Addressing the challenge of combining employment and postgraduate studies, Prof. Olaitan said a rigid 50-50 balance between work and academic commitments was unrealistic for many working professionals. He noted that work shifts, family obligations and academic deadlines could compete for attention, and urged students to adopt flexible, deliberate time-management strategies.
He recommended setting aside uninterrupted periods, particularly 90-minute research sessions, for reading and proposal development. He likened protecting research time to the seriousness with which nurses observe monitoring schedules in intensive care units, advising students to include academic work in their calendars.
During an interactive session, he introduced a five minute “Ward Shift Audit” exercise to help participants assess their use of time and distinguish essential responsibilities from avoidable distractions.
The exercise grouped activities into four areas: crucial foundations, advanced MSc scholarship, urgent distractions and chronic time leaks. He challenged students to identify unproductive habits, including excessive social media use and unnecessary online conversations, and redirect the time saved to literature review and research planning.
Drawing on his professional and academic experience, Prof. Olaitan urged students to regard clinical exposure as an advantage that could enrich their research, rather than an obstacle to postgraduate study.
He encouraged them to pursue continuous learning, develop scientific confidence, maintain clear research objectives and protect their academic timelines. He also urged them to seek guidance early and maintain regular contact with supervisors.
He expressed optimism that proper planning, commitment and effective use of time would enable them to complete their programmes and contribute to nursing science in Africa.
