Quantitative Research Design

SECTION A (1.5 pages)

Quantitative Research Design

Utilizing knowledge and insights gained from the assigned chapter in the text and other reliable sources

SECTION B (1.5 pages)         

Qualitative Research Design

Utilizing knowledge and insights gained from the assigned chapter in the text and other reliable sources

SECTION C (1 page )

Choice of Clinical Focus

Examine nursing best practices and clinical guidelines and identify a clinical focus and established clinical guideline which will be use later to develop a PowerPoint presentation addressing the clinical focus of concern chosen in this section, the evidence based solution to the problem, and how the clinical might be implemented in a specific clinical setting. At the end of this section you should also include post a link to the full clinical guideline that is being proposed.

Research Design

Quantitative research design

            The quantitative research approach refers to a systematic process that is used to collect and analyze information statistically. The information is measured using a particular instrument. The instruments also convert the information into numbers. Quantitative research only deals with quantifiable concepts that are measurable and can be converted in to numbers. It also examines phenomenon through numerical representations of statistical analysis and observations (Roncelli-Vaupot  & Železnik, 2013).

2 designs

            Descriptive research aims at describing an identified variable’s current status. Such research projects are created to offer systematic information regarding a phenomenon. Hypothesis is created after data is gathered. The hypothesis is tested from the synthesis and analysis of data. The study subjects have to be selected carefully and each variable should be measured carefully (Roncelli-Vaupot  & Železnik, 2013).

            Correlational research makes attempts to identify the extent of the relationship between variables through the use of statistical data. Relationships among and between several factors are identified and interpreted. This research method recognizes trends as well as patterns in data. However, there is no detailed analysis that would prove the causes for observed patterns. There is only a study of variables distributions, relationships, and data. There is no manipulation on variables, rather, they are identified and studies as they are in natural settings (Grove, Burns & Gray, 2013).

Potential quantitative nursing research study

            Clinical nursing expertise is very critical to quality patient care. Until today, research has focused on individual nurses characteristic factors and how they contribute to expertise while contextual factors have been ignored. A quantitative research can be designed to examine the impacts of individual nurse experience and education and hospital contextual factors on the clinical nursing expertise. 

The design to be used and reasons 

            The cross-sectional design can be used. This can be useful in revealing the relationship between hospital contextual factors and individual nurse characteristic and the link they have to nursing expertise. 

Applying the information generated in nursing practice

            Healthcare managements can derive that both hospital contextual and individual level factors have significant impacts on expertise. Therefore, they have to be considered when making decisions in the human resource department (Fain, 2013).

Value of quantitative research to science, knowledge, and practice of nursing

            The information from quantitative research can be generalized. Therefore, this makes it easy to solve challenges in the practice. It is also useful in studying large samples. This brings in new information that can be applied. 

References 

Fain, J. A. (2013). Reading, understanding, and applying nursing research. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co.

Grove, S. K., Burns, N., & Gray, J. (2013). The practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier/Saunders.

Roncelli-Vaupot, S., & Železnik, D. (2013). Identifying assertiveness in nursing teams of hospitals. Društvo I Tehnologija – Dr. Juraj Plenković.

Qualitative research design

            The qualitative research approach aims at gaining insight into the value systems, behaviors, attitudes, lifestyles, culture, aspirations, concerns, and motivations of people. There is the intention of acquiring an in-depth comprehension of a particular human behavior as well as the reasons that warrant such behavior. There is an investigation of the how and why of decision making, as opposed to just when, where, and what (Holloway, Wheeler & Holloway, 2010).

2 designs

            Ethnography refers to the interpretation and description of a social or cultural system or group. It involves examining the learned and observable behavior patterns of a group, ways of life, or customs. As a result, the picture of the people’s way of life is obtained. The methods used in ethnography are unstructured interview, participant observation, and direct observation. The researcher mainly spends time with the people so as to observe their way of life keenly. Phenomenology elaborates an event’s subjective reality as the study population perceives is. It involves studying a phenomenon. Phenomenological research techniques provide nurses a valuable strategy for understanding the nursing lifeworld (Holloway, Wheeler & Holloway, 2010).

Potential qualitative nursing research study 

            Nursing shortage is acknowledged to be extremely problematic in the present day nursing environment. Yet, there is limited research with nurses that are longer in the clinical practice. A qualitative research can be designed to understand the factors that influence RNs decision to quit clinical nursing (Holloway  & Wheeler, 2013).

The design to be used and reasons 

            The research can use the phenomenological research design. This can be very effective in revealing the complicated phenomena influencing the registered nurses’ decision of quitting the clinical nursing practice. Interviews can be conducted with the no longer practicing RNs. 

Applying the information generated in nursing practice

            The information gathered from this research can be very useful in the nursing practice. It can be used to develop proper retention strategies so as to ensure that nurses are retained, which will address the shortage. Understanding the reasons why new RNs are usually socially isolated, frustrated, and distressed can be effective in solving the challenge (Beck, 2013).  

Value of quantitative research to science, knowledge, and practice of nursing

            Qualitative research methods are presently very vital in developing nursing knowledge, which is very significant for evidence-based nursing practice. These methods answer a wide array of questions in relation to the nursing concern with human reactions to potential or actual health problems. Qualitative research has a huge role in offering evidence for nursing practice, as well as gaining larger acceptance within the medicine field. 

References 

Beck, C. T. (2013). Routledge international handbook of qualitative nursing research. Abingdon: Routledge.

Holloway, I., & Wheeler, S. (2013). Qualitative Research in Nursing and Healthcare. Chicester: Wiley.

Holloway, I., Wheeler, S., & Holloway, I. (2010). Qualitative research in nursing and healthcare. Chichester, West Sussex, U.K: Wiley-Blackwell.

Clinical focus 

            The falls clinical guideline in reference is meant for health care professionals. There is a summary regarding the assessment and screening of falls among the elderly (focused history, physical examinations, functional assessment, and environmental assessment). There are also recommendations for old people in different care settings. The guideline can be obtained fromhttp://www.americangeriatrics.org/health_care_professionals/clinical_practice/clinical_guidelines_recommendations/prevention_of_falls_summary_of_recommendations

            Fall-related and falls injuries are a critical and common challenge for the elderly. People who are sixty five years and over are at a high risk of falling. Thirty percent of the people aged more than 65 years and fifty percent of those aged more than 80 years fall at least once yearly (Melnyk et al., 2010). This is an indication that the matter is critical and this warrants for proper preventive strategies. Not only do the elderly fall while within their residences; they also fall while within health care institutions. Therefore, healthcare institutions should be keen on eliminating factors that can lead to falls. 

            Falls affect carers as well as family members of the victims. Falls are associated with human costs such as injury, distress, pain, loss of confidence, mortality, and loss of independence. Falls cost the NHS approximately 2.3 billion dollars every year. Hence, falls have an impact on healthcare and health costs as well as quality of life (Gallagher-Ford, Fineout-Overholt &  Melnyk, 2011).

            People aged more than 60 years are given a keen concern since they have higher chances of falling. People within this age group who are admitted in hospitals need to be considered for the multifactorial assessment in relation to their falling risk during the hospital stay. People suffering from a condition that makes them vulnerable to falls are also covered in the guideline. 

References

Gallagher-Ford, L., Fineout-Overholt, E., &  Melnyk, S.  S. (2011). Evidence-based practice, step by step: Implementing an evidence-based practice change. American Journal of Nursing, 111(3), 54–60.

Melnyk, B.M., Fineout-Overholt, E., Stillwell, S.B., & Williamson, K.M. (2010). Evidence-based practice: step by step: the seven steps of evidence-based practice. American Journal of Nursing. 110(1), 51–53.