Nursing ResearchNursing Research

Gaining knowledge in nursingGaining knowledge in nursing

Tradition:Tradition: ““It’s always been done this way”It’s always been done this way”

Information seeking:Information seeking: ““Let’s see what the experts have to say”Let’s see what the experts have to say”

Experience:Experience: ““I found that this works best…”I found that this works best…”

Problem solving/trial & error:Problem solving/trial & error: ““If this doesn’t work, let’s try it this way…”If this doesn’t work, let’s try it this way…”

Research…Research…

What Is Research?What Is Research?

It means: “to search again”It means: “to search again”

It involves:It involves: Diligent and systematic inquiryDiligent and systematic inquiry

Planning & organizationPlanning & organization PersistencePersistence

DiscoveryDiscovery New knowledge about topicsNew knowledge about topics Learning about new areas of studyLearning about new areas of study

Why Is Research Important?Why Is Research Important?

Develop an evidence-based practice for Develop an evidence-based practice for nursing that promotes improved outcomes for:nursing that promotes improved outcomes for:

Patients and familiesPatients and families NursesNurses Health care systemHealth care system

Definition of Nursing ResearchDefinition of Nursing Research

A scientific process that validates and refines A scientific process that validates and refines existing knowledge and generates new existing knowledge and generates new knowledge that directly and indirectly knowledge that directly and indirectly influences nursing practice.influences nursing practice.

Nursing research is essential for developing Nursing research is essential for developing and refining knowledge that can be used to and refining knowledge that can be used to improve clinical practiceimprove clinical practice

Ultimate goal of nursing:Ultimate goal of nursing:

Providing evidence-based care that promotes Providing evidence-based care that promotes quality outcomes for patients, families, health quality outcomes for patients, families, health care providers, and the health care systemcare providers, and the health care system

Ultimate goal of nursing research:Ultimate goal of nursing research:

Generation of an empirical knowledge base to Generation of an empirical knowledge base to guide nursing practiceguide nursing practice

Through nursing research, scientific Through nursing research, scientific knowledge can be developed to improve knowledge can be developed to improve

nursing care, patient outcomes, and the health nursing care, patient outcomes, and the health care delivery systemcare delivery system

Scientific knowledgeScientific knowledge::

Needed to improve nurses’ decision making in Needed to improve nurses’ decision making in prioritizing and organizing their nursing careprioritizing and organizing their nursing care

Solid research base:Solid research base:

Needed to document the effectiveness of Needed to document the effectiveness of selected nursing interventions in treating selected nursing interventions in treating particular patient problems and promoting particular patient problems and promoting positive patient and family outcomespositive patient and family outcomes

Types of nursing researchTypes of nursing research

Quantitative researchQuantitative research: uses numbers, precise : uses numbers, precise measurement measurement Examples: rates of wound healing, control of BP Examples: rates of wound healing, control of BP

or blood sugaror blood sugar Qualitative research:Qualitative research: explores feelings, explores feelings,

experiences, cultures, philosophiesexperiences, cultures, philosophies Examples: what does it feel like to have cancer? Examples: what does it feel like to have cancer?

How do nurses define patient satisfaction?How do nurses define patient satisfaction?

Nursing researchNursing research Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are Both quantitative and qualitative approaches are

important for nursing research because they generate important for nursing research because they generate different kinds of knowledge essential for nursing different kinds of knowledge essential for nursing practice…practice…

Quantitative: Quantitative: Which drugs are most effective in the treatment of Which drugs are most effective in the treatment of

hypertension?hypertension?

Qualitative:Qualitative: How does it feel to live with a family member who has a How does it feel to live with a family member who has a

terminal illness?terminal illness?

Descriptive researchDescriptive research

Exploring and describing phenomena in real-life Exploring and describing phenomena in real-life situationssituations

Provides accurate data about the people or Provides accurate data about the people or phenomena being studiedphenomena being studied

Researchers: Researchers: discover new meaningdiscover new meaning describe what existsdescribe what exists determine the frequency with which something occursdetermine the frequency with which something occurs categorize informationcategorize information

Examples of descriptive researchExamples of descriptive research

What is the occurrence of lymphoma among Hispanics living What is the occurrence of lymphoma among Hispanics living in downtown Chicago? in downtown Chicago?

What are the risk factors for decubitus ulcers among What are the risk factors for decubitus ulcers among paraplegics under age 21? paraplegics under age 21?

Which area of the U.S. has the lowest incidence of diabetes? Which area of the U.S. has the lowest incidence of diabetes?

What time of day is the most common for diabetics to What time of day is the most common for diabetics to experience hypoglycemia?experience hypoglycemia?

Correlational researchCorrelational research

Purpose is to Purpose is to discover relationshipsdiscover relationships between between variables through the use of statistics variables through the use of statistics

Main question for correlational research studies: Main question for correlational research studies: “What is the relationship between X and Y?”“What is the relationship between X and Y?”

Note: Note: Correlational research does not try to determine Correlational research does not try to determine what causes X and Ywhat causes X and Y, just what type of relationship is , just what type of relationship is between the twobetween the two

Examples of correlational researchExamples of correlational research

What is the relationship between knowledge of HIV What is the relationship between knowledge of HIV and condom use in high school students?and condom use in high school students?

What is the relationship among ICU stress and What is the relationship among ICU stress and recovery rate for patients recovering from cardiac recovery rate for patients recovering from cardiac surgery?surgery?

What is the relationship between hardiness, What is the relationship between hardiness, depression and coping in residents of nursing homes? depression and coping in residents of nursing homes?

Experimental researchExperimental research

Used to test the effectiveness of nursing interventionsUsed to test the effectiveness of nursing interventions

Main goalMain goal: figure out cause and effect!: figure out cause and effect!

Researcher looks to compare outcomes of patients Researcher looks to compare outcomes of patients who receive a new nursing treatment as compared to who receive a new nursing treatment as compared to patients who received the traditional treatmentpatients who received the traditional treatment

Experimental researchExperimental research

Patients are randomly assigned to the group that Patients are randomly assigned to the group that receives the new treatment or the group that receives receives the new treatment or the group that receives the traditional treatmentthe traditional treatment

Researchers conduct careful measurements to see Researchers conduct careful measurements to see which treatment is most effectivewhich treatment is most effective

Researchers conduct experimental research very Researchers conduct experimental research very carefully to make sure that the results are accurate carefully to make sure that the results are accurate and trueand true

Examples of experimental researchExamples of experimental research

What is the What is the effecteffect of a relaxation technique on of a relaxation technique on patients’ postoperative pain and anxiety level?patients’ postoperative pain and anxiety level?

What is the What is the effectivenesseffectiveness of a breast cancer screening of a breast cancer screening program for women residing in rural areas?program for women residing in rural areas?

What is the What is the effecteffect of a pre-admission teaching of a pre-admission teaching program on patients’ postoperative activity level and program on patients’ postoperative activity level and length of hospital stay? length of hospital stay?

Historical researchHistorical research

Examines events of the pastExamines events of the past Philosophy: One can learn from the past, and the Philosophy: One can learn from the past, and the

search for wisdom in which the historian examines search for wisdom in which the historian examines what has been, what is, and what ought to bewhat has been, what is, and what ought to be

Examples: Examples: The early years of nursing in IrelandThe early years of nursing in Ireland Determining the worth of nurses’ work: nursing salaries Determining the worth of nurses’ work: nursing salaries

from 1900-1930from 1900-1930 Women giving nursing care during the Civil WarWomen giving nursing care during the Civil War

BSN role in nursing researchBSN role in nursing research

Identify research problems in own clinical practiceIdentify research problems in own clinical practice

Assist with data collection for established studiesAssist with data collection for established studies

Critique research studies for use in own clinical Critique research studies for use in own clinical practicepractice

Use research findings in clinical practiceUse research findings in clinical practice

You may think that nursing research You may think that nursing research is kind of a drag…is kind of a drag…

For many years, nurses have performed lots of weird For many years, nurses have performed lots of weird treatments in the hopes of healing wounds. They really treatments in the hopes of healing wounds. They really did…did…

Pour bleach, iodine, or milk of magnesia into Pour bleach, iodine, or milk of magnesia into wounds, trying to kill bacteria that caused infectionwounds, trying to kill bacteria that caused infection

Pack wounds with sugar to provide energy to the Pack wounds with sugar to provide energy to the cells in the wound and promote healingcells in the wound and promote healing

Power wash wounds to remove dead tissue and Power wash wounds to remove dead tissue and promote healingpromote healing

Ah, the power of research…Ah, the power of research…

Solid nursing researchSolid nursing research showed that… showed that… Bleach, iodine, milk of magnesia and power Bleach, iodine, milk of magnesia and power

washing actually damage cells that work to heal washing actually damage cells that work to heal wounds and form scar tissuewounds and form scar tissue

Sugar provides an excellent medium for bacteria Sugar provides an excellent medium for bacteria and promotes development of infectionand promotes development of infection

Nurse researchersNurse researchers came up with enough evidence to came up with enough evidence to convince physicians to stop using these useless convince physicians to stop using these useless (idiotic??) treatments(idiotic??) treatments

And now…And now…

Nurse researchers are working on studies in a wide Nurse researchers are working on studies in a wide variety of areas, including:variety of areas, including:

Nursing shortage and nursing educationNursing shortage and nursing education Roles of advanced practice nurseRoles of advanced practice nurse Disease managementDisease management Health promotionHealth promotion Caregiver supportCaregiver support Physician-nurse collaborationPhysician-nurse collaboration

Evidence-based practice Evidence-based practice

Use of research findings to:Use of research findings to: Promote the understanding of patients’ and Promote the understanding of patients’ and

families’ experience of health and illnessfamilies’ experience of health and illness

Implement effective nursing interventions to Implement effective nursing interventions to promote optimal patient healthpromote optimal patient health

Provide quality, cost-effective care within the Provide quality, cost-effective care within the health care systemhealth care system

Steps of nursing researchSteps of nursing research1. Identify the problem1. Identify the problem

Goal of the studyGoal of the study

Guides the development of the research objectives Guides the development of the research objectives and questionsand questions

Area of concern where there is a gap in the Area of concern where there is a gap in the knowledge base needed for nursing practiceknowledge base needed for nursing practice

Research is needed to generate knowledge to address Research is needed to generate knowledge to address the problem the problem ultimate goal is evidence-based ultimate goal is evidence-based nursing carenursing care

Steps of nursing researchSteps of nursing research2. Pick the study design2. Pick the study design

Blueprint for the studyBlueprint for the study

Maximizes control over factors that interfere with the Maximizes control over factors that interfere with the studystudy

Is tailored to the individual studyIs tailored to the individual study

Precision and care within the study design increase Precision and care within the study design increase the odds that the study findings will be valid (an the odds that the study findings will be valid (an accurate reflection of reality)accurate reflection of reality)

Steps of nursing researchSteps of nursing research3. Conduct the study3. Conduct the study

Gather subjects for the studyGather subjects for the study

Collect the dataCollect the data

Accuracy & consistency are very important to ensure Accuracy & consistency are very important to ensure that the data is correct and truthfulthat the data is correct and truthful

Researchers must work to minimize error in the data Researchers must work to minimize error in the data collection processcollection process

Steps of nursing researchSteps of nursing research4. Analyze the data4. Analyze the data

Statistical procedures are used to examine the Statistical procedures are used to examine the numerical data gathered in a studynumerical data gathered in a study

Enter data into computer and check for errorsEnter data into computer and check for errors

Perform analysis of the data using statistics designed Perform analysis of the data using statistics designed for the research processfor the research process

Interpret the data to develop findings and conclusionsInterpret the data to develop findings and conclusions

Steps of nursing researchSteps of nursing research5. Use the findings5. Use the findings

Adapt the research study findings so that they can be Adapt the research study findings so that they can be used in clinical practiceused in clinical practice

Spread the word about the study and findings through Spread the word about the study and findings through journal articles and conferencesjournal articles and conferences

Come up with recommendations for further researchCome up with recommendations for further research

* Research is not done when a study is completed- * Research is not done when a study is completed- more research is always waiting to be done!more research is always waiting to be done!

Ethics and nursing researchEthics and nursing research

Right to anonymity and confidentialityRight to anonymity and confidentiality

Anonymity:Anonymity: when subject’s identity cannot be linked, even by when subject’s identity cannot be linked, even by the researcher, with his/her individual responsesthe researcher, with his/her individual responses

Confidentiality:Confidentiality: when subjects’ identity and information is when subjects’ identity and information is kept anonymous from otherskept anonymous from others

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

Researcher’s management of private information shared by a Researcher’s management of private information shared by a subjectsubject

Researchers Researchers mustmust not share not share this information without consent this information without consent of the subjectof the subject

Breach of confidentialityBreach of confidentiality: : when researcher allows unauthorized person to gain access when researcher allows unauthorized person to gain access

to confidential study informationto confidential study information When subject’s identity is revealed when study is When subject’s identity is revealed when study is

published/reportedpublished/reported

Scientific misconductScientific misconduct

Plagiarism:Plagiarism: Intentionally representing someone else’s work as Intentionally representing someone else’s work as

your ownyour own Rewording your own paper to create a new paper Rewording your own paper to create a new paper

based on the same databased on the same data Sharing confidential information from othersSharing confidential information from others

Research misconductResearch misconduct

Fabrication:Fabrication: making up results making up results

Falsification:Falsification: changing results changing results

Plagiarism:Plagiarism: copying results copying results