What comes to mind when you think of research? What about research in the field of nursing? How is research generated, and how is it applied? What does research mean to the doctoral nursing student?

Nursing research addresses questions concerning the profession, as well as seeks to improve patient care and practice. “Nursing research is defined as a scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly influences the delivery of evidence-based nursing” (Gray & Grove, 2020). This course will give you the opportunity to explore the various methods and ideologies of nursing research.

This week, you will examine research methods and explore the importance of such research for nursing practice. You will also review evidence-based practice (EBP) and analyze your personal experience and familiarity with EBP in your organization.

Reference: Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze previous experiences in nursing practice and nursing research
• Analyze organizational support for evidence-based practice

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Required Media (click to expand/reduce)

Discussion: Introduction and Experience With Research

• Have you ever considered the importance of research in nursing? How might research shape the delivery of healthcare?
  In this course, you will consider the importance of research in nursing and analyze your previous experience and familiarity with research. Research in nursing began with Florence Nightingale in 1850 and has continued to transform in complexity and scope every year since (Gray & Grove, 2020).

• Photo Credit: [DrAfter123]/[Digital Vision Vectors]/Getty Images

Not surprisingly, the field and practice of nursing is greatly influenced by the implementation of evidence-based practice (EBP) or rather, nursing practices and guidelines that are strongly supported by research and data outcomes.

For this Discussion, take a moment to introduce yourself to you peers and describe your current or previous role in nursing practice. Reflect on your experience with EBP and consider whether your current organization supports EBP.

Reference: Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.

To Prepare:

• Review the Learning Resources for this week.
• Reflect on your experience with nursing practice and research, particularly EBP. For example, consider how your current organization may support EBP. How might this connect with what you read in the textbook chapters?

By Day 3 of Week 1

Post a brief introduction, including your current or previous role in nursing practice. Describe any previous experience with nursing research. Be specific. Then, explain any previous experience or familiarity with EBP and explain whether your current organization supports EBP. Be specific and provide examples.

By Day 6 of Week 1

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days by expanding upon your colleague’s post or suggesting an additional alternative perspective on EBP.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the “Post to Discussion Question” link and then select “Create Thread” to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click on Submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking on Submit!

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 1 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 of Week 1 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 1

To Participate in this Discussion:

Week 1 Discussion

What’s Coming Up in Week 2?

• Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

Next week, you will examine the elements of a research problem. You will formulate your own research problem statement and consider its potential impact on society and in promoting positive nursing practice change.

Looking Ahead: Assignment: CITI Program Training

• As a doctorally-prepared nurse, you may have opportunities collaborate in research activities in your practice. The Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI Program) provides education on protection of human subjects. In the United States, the CITI Program is the training module that most research institutions use.

• Photo Credit: Андрей Яланский / Adobe Stock

Therefore, as a part of this course, you are required to successfully complete the CITI Program training by Day 7 of Week 9.

This online course may take up to 8 hours to complete. You will receive an electronic Certificate of Completion upon successfully passing the training. You will submit this Certificate of Completion to the Walden University Institutional Review Board office when you submit an application to conduct research.

To Prepare:

• Follow the instructions on the CITI Program Learner Registration webpage to create your account (https://www.citiprogram.org/index.cfm?pageID=154&icat=0&clear=1).
  • Review the CITI Program Learner Registration Guide for step-by-step instructions on completing the registration process.
  • Be sure to select Walden University under the “Select Your Organization Affiliation” section. If you do not select Walden University, you will not be able to access the training at no cost.
• Create and record your CITI Program User Name and Password for future reference.

To complete:

By Day 7 of Week 9

• Complete the five required Citi Program training modules as well as the two elective modules.
• Copy and paste the Certificate of Completion into a Word document and save the file as a “.doc” or “.rtf” file.

You are not required to submit this Assignment this week.

Note: This Assignment must be completed by Day 7 of Week 9 in order for you to successfully complete this course.

Next Week