This is a 3000-word
assignment divided into two sections.
Section
1 of the assignment.
Students will answer
10 questions on a given published research paper, which is of direct relevance
to evidence-based practice. The NUR 5021 tuition sessions provide the
information the student requires to answer each of the set questions. See p.2 of
the assignment instructions for the 10 questions.
The answers to each of
the questions forms the foundation on which the student builds the critique for
section 2 of the assignment.
Each student receives
a copy of the paper to be critiqued.
Each question should
be answered in 200 words. This amounts to 2000 words for Section 1 of the
assignment.
Section
2 of the assignment.
Section 2 has a
1000-word allowance. The student is
required to give an overall
professional critique of the paper. The student is required to comment on the
research study’s chosen methodology, and whether the intended research aim/s of
the study have been met. From information gained from the NUR 5021 tuition
sessions the student is asked to consider whether a future similar study could
be designed and conducted using the same research paradigm, or whether a
different paradigm could be used, and if so to explain why.
The student is
required to conclude the assignment by stating how the knowledge gained on the
evidence-based practice will be used in the nursing student journey, and how it
will then be applied as a nursing registrant.
The paper to be
critiqued is:
Eastwood,
G.M, O’Connell, B., Gardner, A., and Considine, J. (2009) Patients’ and nurses’
perspectives on oxygen therapy: a qualitative study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 65 (3) pp.634-641
Particular guidance for the student
·
Students are expected to source and use other
references (not those cited by the research author/s in the given paper) in
support of the points they wish to make in sections 1 and 2 of the assignment.
·
Please do not state each question because
this will use up the allocated word allowance. Put Q.1. and provide an answer
to Q.1, and then proceed in this way with each successive question.
·
A + 10%, or – 10% of the total word allowance is accepted.
Section 1 Questions:
In your own words please
answer the following questions in 200
words each.
1.
What is the focus and purpose of this
published study? Please state any research aim/s and identify if there is any
group of people who would find this study of particular interest and if so, state
why.
2.
What is the methodology used in this study?
Is the methodology appropriate for the aim/s of the study? Please state the
reason/s for your answer.
3.
Identify the main reasons why oxygen is
administered to a patient. Please use the findings of the literature search
undertaken by the researchers to help you to answer this question but source
your own alternative references in answering the question. Do not use the
references provided by the research authors in the given assignment paper.
4.
What is the number of the participants in the
study, and how were they recruited into the study?
5.
What data collection methods were used? Are
these appropriate for the study? Briefly explain your answer. (Note that GME is
one of the researchers and that it was GME who conducted all the interviews).
6.
Are there any ethical issues in this study?
7.
Explain what is meant by an “exploratory
descriptive design”.
8.
Discuss the method/s used for data analysis. Is
this appropriate to the study? Briefly explain your answer.
9.
Discuss how the data findings are presented.
Are the data findings clear?
10.
Do the research findings relate well to the
title, and to the stated aim/s of the study? Briefly explain your answer in
relation to validity and reliability, two key components of research studies.
Section 2.
Write 1,000 words giving an
overall professional judgement and critique of this evidence-based paper.
Remember that evidence-based practice stems from research. In the conclusion to the critique the
student is required to state what has been learned from reading the paper
and/or from doing the assignment and how this learning will be taken forward as
a student nurse and then as a registered nurse.