Samples and Data Collection (ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Purpose

This week’s graded topics relate to the following Course Outcomes (COs).

CO 2: Apply research principles to the interpretation of the content of published research studies. (POs 4 & 8)
CO 4: Evaluate published nursing research for credibility and significance related to evidence-based practice. (POs 4 & 8)
CO 5: Recognize the role of research findings in evidence-based practice. (POs 7 & 8)

Due Date

During the assigned week (Sunday the start of the assigned week through Sunday the end of the assigned week):
- Posts in the discussion at least two times, and
- Posts in the discussion on two different days

Directions

Discussions are designed to promote dialogue between faculty and students, and students and their peers. In discussions students:
- Demonstrate understanding of concepts for the week
- Integrate outside scholarly sources when required
- Engage in meaningful dialogue with classmates and/or instructor
- Express opinions clearly and logically, in a professional manner
Use the rubric on this page as you compose your answers.
Best Practices include:
- Participation early in the week is encouraged to stimulate meaningful discussion among classmates and instructor.
- Enter the discussion often during the week to read and learn from posts.
- Select different classmates for your reply each week.

Discussion Questions

Access the following information. You may read the PDF online or download it.

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Brief summary of results from the 2018 national sample survey of registered nurses. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/nssrn-summary-report.pdfLinks to an external site.

Review the data and describe some of the key attributes/characteristics of this sample of the nursing workforce.
Discuss some of the data that you found interesting and include what you believe the purpose (intent) of sharing these results.
The instruments and tools that we use to collect data need to be reliable and valid. Define these terms and explain the importance of each. Share one way that can be used to collect data that you were not aware of or familiar with.

ANSWER

Samples and Data Collection

Key attributes of Nursing Workforce Sample

About 47.5% of the respondents were over 50 years old, while 53% were less than 50 years. Whites accounted for 73.3% of the total registered nurses (RNs) population, Hispanics 10.2%, Blacks 7.8%, Asians 5.2%, and individuals of multiple races made up 1.75% (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). About 6.4% of the nurses had a Diploma, 29.6% had an associate degree, 44.6% had a Bachelor’s degree, 17.5% had a Master’s Degree, and 1.9% had a doctorate. Approximately 32.9% have telehealth capabilities, and 11.5% of the workforce hold advanced practice roles.

Interesting Data and Purpose of Disseminating Results

What I found interesting is that direct patient care is no longer part of some nurses’ jobs. The article indicates that approximately 16.6% of nurses’ primary positions do not entail direct patient care (U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2019). This data illustrates that nursing roles are evolving. I think the goal of sharing these results was to allow future workforce planning. From the results, the government can enumerate the overall number of nurses in the country, determine workforce gaps and supply, how many nurses it would need in future, and whether the education capacity of the existing ones is adequate to meet future demands.

Question 3

Instrument reliability means that the instrument used to measure variables provides the same results every time the measurement is done, i.e., it yields consistent results. On the other hand, instrument validity means the instrument actually measures the construct or variable it intends to measure. If a study lacks internal validity, its results differ from reality, and researchers cannot draw conclusions from its findings (Ahmed& Ishtiaq 2021). External validity is irrelevant if internal validity is erroneous. If a study lacks reliability, researchers cannot trust its results, limiting the translation of its findings in practice. I did not know personal diaries could also be data collection tools. Polit and Beck (2020) indicate that researchers can use personal diaries to collect data in historical research. This method requires participants to document in their diaries a particular aspect of their experience in a semi-structured format.

References

Ahmed, I., & Ishtiaq, S. (2021). Reliability and validity: Importance in Medical Research. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 71(10), 2401–2406. https://doi.org/10.47391/JPMA.06-861

Polit, D., & Beck, C. (2020). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

US. Department of Health and Human Services. (2019). Brief summary of results from the 2018 national sample survey of registered nurses. https://bhw.hrsa.gov/sites/default/files/bureau-health-workforce/data-research/nssrn-summary-report.pdf