NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills

Step-By-Step Guide NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills 

Introduction to NURS 4000 Assessment 2 

Welcome to the How-To Guide for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills. This How-To NURS-FPX4000 Guide is designed to assist students in mastering the essential skills required to successfully complete their research-based assignments in the healthcare field. Throughout this assessment, students will learn to select a relevant healthcare issue, identify and analyze peer-reviewed articles, assess the credibility and relevance of their sources, and effectively synthesize their findings in an annotated bibliography. This guide will provide step-by-step instructions on these critical components, ensuring students can confidently apply scholarly information through critical thinking to solve problems and enhance their writing skills to meet academic standards.

Select one of the healthcare problems or issues presented in the Assessment 02 Supplement. Write a brief overview of the selected healthcare problem or issue in your overview. Summarize the health care problem or issue. Describe the professional relevance of this topic. Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.

Selecting a Health Care Problem or Issue

To start the NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills, we will first choose a healthcare problem.

• Summarization of the Problem: Draft a concise summary that captures the essence of the chosen issue. This summary should provide a clear picture of the problem’s impact on healthcare.
• Describing Professional Relevance: Explain why the chosen issue is significant in today’s healthcare industry. Discuss its implications on operational efficiency, patient care, and policymaking.
• Reflecting on Personal Experience: If applicable, describe any personal or professional encounters with the chosen issue. This adds a practical perspective to your research.

Example

The lack of medical workers in the field significantly impacts both patient care and the overall well-being of medical staff. These shortages increase the responsibilities of present employees, endangering patient safety and escalating healthcare personnel’s weariness. The quality of care that patients get is greatly influenced by nurse-to-patient ratios. Thus, it is imperative to address staffing issues using evidence-based solutions. The focus is increasingly on activities like recruiting drives, specialized training programs, and flexible scheduling to lessen the pressure caused by shortages. The complexity of a demanding healthcare environment is increased by the lack of adequately skilled and sufficient workers.

Identify peer-reviewed articles relevant to this healthcare issue or problem. Search scholarly peer-reviewed literature related to the topic and describe the criteria you used to search for articles, including the names of the databases you used. You will select four current scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3–5 years that relate to your topic. Refer to the NHS-FPX4000: Developing a Health Care Perspective Library Guide to help you locate appropriate references. Use keywords related to the healthcare problem or issue you are researching to select relevant articles.

Identifying Relevant Literature

Next, we will look for review articles related to the healthcare problem we selected.

• Criteria: Focus on articles published within the last 3-5 years on healthcare staffing shortages. Databases: Use PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Web of Science.
• Search Techniques: Keywords: Use terms like “healthcare staffing shortages” and “nurse staffing.”  Filters: Limit to peer-reviewed articles from the past 3-5 years.
• Effective Keyword Use: Combine terms with AND, OR NOT. Use quotes for exact phrases, e.g., “staffing shortages in hospitals. Use for variations.

Example

Identifying Academic Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Pertinent sources were found using the Capella University Library database, and a shortlist was created. Search phrases, including workload, healthcare recruiting, and nurse-to-patient ratio, helped me find academic publications about staffing shortages using Summon Advanced Search. Furthermore, the inclusion of the most recent data on best practices was guaranteed by the focus on recent publications published in the last three to five years. The extensive database of “Nursing and Healthcare Sciences” was quite helpful in providing a wide range of scholarly viewpoints that promised an in-depth analysis of staffing shortages. The approach aimed to incorporate a range of views that would increase knowledge of the topic through reliable and diverse scholarly contributions. Diversity was prioritized during the selection process to depict the nuanced nature of healthcare challenges.

Assess the credibility and explain the relevance of the information sources you find. Determine if the source is from an academic peer-reviewed journal. Determine if the publication is current. Determine if information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.

Assessing Credibility and Relevance of Sources

For this section of the NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills, we will assess the credibility and relevance of the chosen resources.

• Verify that each article is peer-reviewed; this information is often listed on the journal’s website or database.
• Check the reputation of the publishing journals, favoring those known for rigorous review processes and academic integrity.
• Confirm publication dates are within the last 3-5 years to ensure current information.
• Review the content of the articles to ensure they directly relate to and enhance understanding of your specific research topic on staffing shortages in healthcare.

Example

Assessing Relevance and Credibility of Information Sources

Credibility and relevancy were prioritized during the thorough review procedure of selecting articles. Because the articles chosen for this investigation of staffing shortages could only be found in peer-reviewed journals that have been published, a high level of scientific scrutiny was guaranteed. The author’s experience and professional knowledge were crucial in proving the reliability of the sources she used. Furthermore, the emphasis on relevance necessitated that the selected publications provide significant insights into staffing shortages, offering practical interventions and substantially contributing to a more extensive understanding of the problem. This careful source selection process aimed to create a solid body of knowledge firmly based on respectable and relevant academic contributions supporting the validity and importance of the selected articles.

Analyze academic peer-reviewed journal articles using the annotated bibliography organizational format. Provide a rationale for the inclusion of each selected article. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with crucial information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. In your annotated bibliography: a) Identify the purpose of the article. b) Summarize the information. c) Provide a rationale for the inclusion of each article. d) Include the conclusions and findings of the article. e) Write your annotated bibliography in a paragraph form. The annotated bibliography should be approximately 150 words (1–3 paragraphs).

Analyzing Academic Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles

Here, we will analyze the reviewed articles related to the healthcare problem selected.

• Purpose Identification: Clearly state the article’s primary objective to understand its focus.
• Information Summary: Summarize key points and findings, concentrating on elements directly relevant to healthcare staffing shortages.
• Rationale for Inclusion: Explain each article’s relevance to your research, highlighting its contribution to understanding or solving staffing shortages.
• Conclusions and Findings: Detail significant conclusions or findings and their implications for the healthcare sector.
• Annotation Writing: Write each annotation in paragraph form, approximately 150 words, focusing on clarity and conciseness.
• APA Formatting: Cite each article in APA format, including author, year, title, journal name, volume, issue, and pages.
• Bibliography Formatting: List references alphabetically by the first author’s last name.
• Use double spacing and hanging indents to enhance readability.

Example

Annotated Bibliography

Aziz, S., Arabi, Y. M., Waleed Alhazzani, Evans, L., Citerio, G., Fischkoff, K., Salluh, J. I., Geert Meyfroidt, Fayez Alshamsi, Oczkowski, S., Azoulay, É., Price, A., Burry, L., Dzierba, A., Benintende, A. J., Morgan, J. S., Giacomo Grasselli, Rhodes, A., Morten Hylander Møller, & Chu, L. F. (2020). Managing ICU surge during the COVID-19 crisis: rapid guidelines. Intensive Care Medicine, 46(7), 1303–1325. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-020-06092-5

Aziz et al.’s study on ICU surge control during the COVID-19 crisis sheds light on the severe psychological effects that medical personnel had to deal with. The article encourages introducing programs to strengthen healthcare workers’ resilience and provide emotional support throughout the pandemic’s breakout by offering specific and doable recommendations. The recommendations address the primary and secondary stresses of the crisis and provide a strong foundation for supporting medical professionals during these trying times. This article’s apparent connection to the more significant issue of personnel shortages and the particular difficulties critical care units face justifies its inclusion in the bibliography. It is an extensive and valuable resource for healthcare businesses searching for efficient ways to aid their employees in emergencies. It helps understand and handle the difficulties associated with staffing in a healthcare context. (Aziz et al., 2020).

Summarize what you have learned while developing an annotated bibliography.

Summarizing Learned Insights

For the last section of the Assessment One, we will summarize the key takeaways.

• Summarize what you learned from your research in a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper.
• List the main points you learned from your research.
• Summarize the main contributions of your chosen sources and how they enhanced your knowledge about the topic.

Example

The study of healthcare staffing shortages has yielded valuable insights into the intricate problems and possible remedies associated with this vital subject. After examining the selected articles, I now understand how the number of nurses on staff directly affects patient safety outcomes. Wang’s study provided evidence-based recommendations for the proper staffing ratios for various nursing units, underscoring the vital significance of legislated staffing ratios. The work by McHugh et al. clarified the adverse effects of high nurse-to-patient ratios and provided helpful guidance for overcoming shortages.

Closing

In the NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills, we explored the steps necessary to conduct thorough and effective research within the healthcare sector. By adhering to this How-To Owlisdom Guide, you can ensure they develop a well-rounded understanding of significant healthcare issues backed by credible and relevant sources. Remember, the key to successful research lies in meticulousness and a critical approach to information evaluation.

In Assessment 3, you will learn to apply moral principles to develop a solution to a specific ethical dilemma faced by a healthcare professional.