Essay title - Nursing Research Practice
Research question/background/purpose
Nursing Research is known to be an integral section of the profession's obligation to improve on the excellence in practice. It involves "a specialized expression of caring concerned primarily with enhancing the abilities of individuals and groups to achieve their health potential within the realities of their life situation." It is a process of organized enquiry, the purpose of which is to contribute to the shaping of nursing practice within its dynamic context. It is undertaken to develop knowledge and structures that will guide, validate and support nursing practice. This research occurs within the areas of nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing policy and management.
All nurses, having developed a nursing perspective from their particular body of knowledge, had a mandate to continually extend and test that knowledge in order to better the quality of nursing practice. They ventured into the process of systematic enquiry to the degree of complexity for which their education had prepared them. Some nurses were engaged primarily in the role of nurse researcher. The purpose of the Nursing Research Section is to advance nursing research in order to improve the quality of nursing practice and health. Fostering research in clinical nursing practice, nursing education, and nursing policy and management is one of the aims of the nursing research. Others include providing support and recognition for nurses engaging in nursing research and facilitating publication and dissemination of nursing research. Promotion of co-operation and collaboration between nurse researchers nationally and internationally is also a crucial aims of the nursing research.
Literature review/theoretical support
The overall aim of the research was to extend science about families by developing and refining research methodologies that explore issues and concerns affecting families in the setting in which they live. Project developed a patient-based research infrastructure, established joint and collaborative programs of medical research and data collection and supported the research-related costs of patient care, data collection, and academic training.
The intervention of this was fairly complex in that individual units determined a workplace change to implement. For about 6 months, change development and implementation was facilitated by a trained bachelor’s prepared nurse who devoted efforts solely to the project. Changes involved things like facilitating documentation of activities, increasing medication supplies, and implementation of a communication tool related to patient transfers.
Changes before and 6 months after the workplace change were determined for system data (unit/hospital characteristics), nurse outcome data (surveys on satisfaction, work quality, etc.), and patient outcomes (ADLs, satisfaction, etc.). Analysis involved “nesting” outcomes for nurses within units. Patient outcomes were not nested since different patients were used at data collection points.
Design/sampling methods/data collection method
Six-month findings indicated positive changes in nurse perceptions of the work and work environment. This is one of few studies that measure change over time with a work environment change (probably due to the complexity of such research designs). Researchers discussed the significant contributions of nurse and unit characteristics on outcomes. For example, RNs with baccalaureate degrees reported higher levels of job stress than those with diplomas… could the “added knowledge and understanding that comes with degree education and the greater sense of accountability” be active in these findings? Unit characteristics such as proportion of part-time nurses also impacted outcomes with units having more part-time nurses having higher average nurse ratings of job satisfaction. Finally, hospital and unit characteristics impacted patient outcomes… patients in teaching hospitals reported better perceptions of quality and increased independence than did community hospital patients.
Discussion/interpretation
An open audit carried on the data. This enabled more accurate data to be collected and make it possible to create an opportunity to intervene to make clinical care improvements as these are discovered. However, it can be more expensive and more data collectors may be needed. It was important to check that the data had been collected accurately and completely before commencing the full audit.
Canadian research vignettes unwraps each section of the text, setting the stage for learning about Canadian nursing research. The book examines the Canadian history and roles of research in nursing, the processes of qualitative and quantitative research, the application and analysis of nursing research, and evidence-based practice. A strong emphasis is placed on the ethical and legal issues to be considered within Canada.
Overall impression of quality including the strengths and limitations of the study
Interactive learning aids throughout the book, such as research articles, critical thinking challenges, and critiquing criteria, help readers master important material and learn to apply the principles of research to Canadian nursing practice.
Usefulness the results for practice. Strategies for dissemination to nurses, patients and consumers
In the artical written the Canadian code of ethics was observed. This gave guidance in decision-making regarding ethical matters, and provided a basis for peer-review initiatives. Other than educating the nurses about their ethical duties it informs other health professionals and members of the public of the moral commitment required of the nurses. Inferences from this Canadian study are that fairly simple workplace changes can quickly (within 6 months) alter nurse and patient outcomes. Authors described issues with nurse generations, nurse experience, and patient-to-nurse ratios that deserve further study.
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