What is the impact of research studies on nursing practice?

Research studies have the ability to create change and move healthcare forward. New insights garner new ideas, and new ideas create a space in which patients may receive better care.

Not surprisingly, as a profession, healthcare professionals rely heavily on the use of research to guide practice. Moreover, DNP-prepared nurses are uniquely prepared, through training and education, to lead the way for the use of research to impact change. As a future DNP-prepared nurse, how do you see yourself using research in your area of practice?

This week, you will examine the use of nonparametric methods in research studies. You will explore the use of research for your area of practice and analyze studies in your area of interest. You will also consider and recommend changes to study designs and methodologies to improve the data analyzed as you continue working on your Article Critique Assignment.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Analyze the use of nonparametric statistical tests in research studies
• Analyze why parametric statistical tests are inappropriate for research study designs
• Analyze strengths and weaknesses of research studies*
• Analyze how research studies contribute to evidence-based practice for nursing
• Analyze impact of research studies on nursing practice*
• Recommend changes to study designs and methodologies to support research studies*

*Assigned in Week 7 of Module 3 and submitted in Week 10 of Module 4

Learning Resources

Required Readings (click to expand/reduce)

Discussion: Statistical Analysis in Nursing

• “An essential component of nursing education is ensuring students develop the competencies in the use of empirical evidence in their clinical practice. The fundamental goal of statistics courses is to teach healthcare professionals the proper uses of statistical thinking to enable them to effectively evaluate the literature and integrate evidence into their practice” (Baghi & Kornides, 2014).

• Photo Credit: ZoneCreative / iStock / Getty Images

How are research methods used in nursing? What particular methods are used in your area of nursing practice? Over the last few weeks, you have been exploring these questions, and you will continue this exploration examining the specific tests and methods that may be used in your particular area of nursing practice. Why might different methods be used based on an area of practice? Why is it important for DNP-prepared nurses to be familiar with various research methods?

For this Discussion, reflect on the tests and methods utilized in research studies, presented over the last eight weeks of the course, to consider the approach, impact, and purpose of these in conducting nursing research. Using a selected article, consider the approach used and reflect on how that approach might fits within your area of nursing practice.

Reference: Baghi, H., & Kornides, M. (2013). Current and future health care professionals attitudes toward and knowledge of statistics: How confidence influences learning. Journal of Nursing Education Practitioners 3(7), 24–29 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4239707/

To Prepare:

• Review the articles presented in this week’s Learning Resources and analyze each study’s use of statistical and nonparametric tests.
• Select an article to focus on for this Discussion.
• Ask yourself: Which method is most commonly used in research studies that pertain to my area of nursing practice, and why this might be so?

By Day 3 of Week 8

Post a critical analysis of the article that you selected by addressing the following:

• What are the goals and purpose of the research study described by the article you selected?
• How are nonparametric tests used in the research study? What are the results of their use? Be specific.
• Why are parametric methods (t tests and ANOVA) inappropriate for the statistical analysis of the research study’s data? Be specific and provide examples.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the research study (e.g., study design, sampling, and measurement)?
• How could the findings and recommendations of the research study contribute to evidence-based practice for nursing?

By Day 6 of Week 8

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses and respond to at least two of your colleagues on two different days in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence, or research.
• Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
• Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
• Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
• Suggest an alternative perspective based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
• Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

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 8 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 of Week 8 and Respond by Day 6 of Week 8

To Participate in this Discussion:

Week 8 Discussion

Assignment: Article Critique

Continue to work on your article critique, assigned in Week 7 and due in Week 10. Continue evaluating your selected research article and developing the required sections of your paper.

You are not required to submit this Assignment this week. Your article critique is due by Day 7 of Week 10.

What’s Coming Up in Module 4?

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

In the next module, you will explore and analyze approaches for qualitative research. You will explore methods and analysis as it relates to healthcare and your particular area of nursing practice. You will also complete your CITI Program Training and complete your Article Critique Assignment submission.

Looking Ahead: Assignment: CITI Program Training

• As a doctorally-prepared nurse, you may have opportunities to 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. Therefore, as a part of this course, you are required to successfully complete the CITI Program training by Day 7 of Week 9.

• Photo Credit: Андрей Яланский / Adobe Stock

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.

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