N 536 - Utilization of Nursing Research in Advanced Practice

Course Description

The primary goal of this 2-credit core course is to promote an evidence-based approach to advanced nursing practice. Evidence-based research findings for nursing practice will be evaluated in terms of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic relevance. An understanding of the research process, applicable theories, organizational dynamics, and leadership functions are applied to the design and process of implementing research findings in health care settings.

Prerequisite

An approved basic undergraduate statistics course and the STATS and METHODS Modules. You may find both modules at the University of Michigan School of Nursing, web-based METHODS Module (http://www.nursing.umich.edu/n536research/methodsdirections.html) and STATS Module (http://www.nursing.umich.edu/studentresources/modules/statsMod.swf). You need to get 90% for the METHODS Module and 80% for the STATS Module to pass.

Course Objectives

By completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Explicate the relevance of evidence-based research findings for nursing practice in an environment of continuous quality improvement.
2. Use appropriate technology to identify important sets of empirical literature and synthesize these findings to determine their relevance for enhancing the scientific basis of nursing practice.
3. Demonstrate the ability for critical evaluation of elements of the research process.
4. Demonstrate the ability to plan for implementation of research-based advanced nursing practice.
5. Demonstrate the ability to accomplish a research utilization project within a team structure.

Learning Outcomes

Emphasis is on applying concepts and processes of research utilization in advanced practice nursing. Students are expected to spend approximately eight hours each week actively preparing for class or completing assignments.

Course Schedule Information

Lesson Topics

1. Research Problems and Purposes
2. Literature Search and Review
3. Quantitative Research 
4. Research Design
5. Sampling
6. Measurement
7. Critique a Research Paper 
8. Ethics and Scientific Integrity 

Required Text Books, Programs, and Course Tools:

Textbook

• Burns, N., & Grove, S.K. (2005). The practice of nursing research: Conduct, critique, & utilization (5th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.

The must-have textbook for now and the future

• American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed). Washington, DC: Author.

Get one of the following two texts on literature reviews

• Galvin, J. L. (2004). Writing Literature Reviews: A guide for students of the social and behavioral sciences (3rd ed.). Pyrczak Publishing: Glendale California.
• Pan, M Ling. (2004). Preparing Literature Reviews. Qualitative and quantitative approaches (2nd ed.). Pyrczak Publishing: Glendale California.

Other helpful resources

• Wood, M.J., & Ross-Kerr, J.C. (2006). Basic steps in planning nursing research: From question to proposal (6th ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc.
• Vogt, W. Paul (2007). Quantitative research methods for professionals. Boston, MA: Pearson/Allyn and Bacon. Berg, Bruce L. (2007). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.