Class 4 Unit 5 COMMENT 1

Purpose: Comment the Discussion (Class 504 Unit 5 Comment 1)

Thing to Remember:

Answer this discussion with opinions/ideas creatively and clearly. Supports post using several outside, peer-reviewed sources.

1 References, find resources that are 5 years or less

No errors with APA format 6 Edition

To Comment:

Quantitative research is the investigation of phenomena using manipulation of numerical data with statistical analysis (Fineout-Overholt, & Melnyk, 2015). In terms of nursing research, quantitative research can take the form of randomized controlled trials, and crossover design studies. A randomized controlled trial seeks to establish a cause and effect relationship between an independent variable and the population being studied, while crossover designs study the manipulation of an independent variable of a topic (CIRT, 2016).

A research topic that is important to nursing includes the rate of decubitus ulcers compared to the number of days a patient is on bed rest orders. In a study on this topic, I would use a randomized controlled trial to research records of how many days a patient was on bed rest when skin breakdown occurred. This type of research can lead to practice changes by informing clinical workers on skin breakdown, and how to prevent it. Up to ninety-five percent of pressure ulcers are avoidable by using a comprehensive prevention plan (Blenman, & Marks-Maran, 2017). Using the information gained from this study can be a helpful tool for patient and nurse education, and talking points about how to maintain a healthy skin integrity.

The value of quantitative research into nursing practice, is to objectively collect data to inform practice. Quantitative research is a way to collect data in a non-biased way that can help to change clinical practice by testing new methods of patient care.  By manipulating only one variable at a time, there can be an objective measurement of what is being studied in order to prove that one method of patient care is more effective than another.

References:

Blenman, J., & Marks-Maran, D. (2017). Pressure ulcer prevention is everyone’s business: the PUPS project. British Journal of Nursing, 26(6), S16-S26.

Center for Innovation in Research and Teaching. (2016). Quantitative Approaches. Retrieved from: https://cirt.gcu.edu/research/developmentresources/research_ready/quantresearch/approaches

Fineout-Overholt, E., Melnyk, B. (2015). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. (3rd Ed.). Wolters Kluwer/ Lippincott Williams & Wilkins