Critiquing the validity and robustness of research featured in journal articles provides a critical foundation for engaging in evidence-based practice. In Weeks 5 and 6, you explored quantitative research designs. In Week 7, you will examine qualitative and mixed methods research designs. For this Assignment you critique a quantitative and either a qualitative or a mixed methods research study and compare the types of information obtained in each.

To prepare:

· Select a health topic of interest to you that is relevant to your current area of practice. The topic may be your Course Portfolio Project or a different topic of your choice.

· Using the Walden Library, locate two articles in scholarly journals that deal with your portfolio topic: 1) Select one article that utilizes a quantitative research design and 2) select a second article that utilizes either a qualitative OR a mixed methods design. These need to be single studies not systematic or integrative reviews (including meta-analysis and metasynthesis). You may use research articles from your reference list. If you cannot find these two types of research on your portfolio topic, you may choose another topic.

· Locate the following documents in this week’s Learning Resources to access the appropriate templates, which will guide your critique of each article:

o Critique Template for a Qualitative Study

o Critique Template for a Quantitative Study

o Critique Template for a Mixed-Methods Study

· Consider the fields in the templates as you review the information in each article. Begin to draft a paper in which you analyze the two research approaches as indicated below. Reflect on the overall value of both quantitative and qualitative research. If someone were to say to you, “Qualitative research is not real science,” how would you respond?

To complete this Assignment:

· Complete the two critiques using the appropriate templates.

· Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

· Contrast the types of information that you gained from examining the two different research approaches in the articles that you selected.

o Describe the general advantages and disadvantages of the two research approaches featured in the articles. Use examples from the articles for support.

o Formulate a response to the claim that qualitative research is not real science. Highlight the general insights that both quantitative and qualitative studies can provide to researchers. Support your response with references to the Learning Resources and other credible sources.

· Reminder: The School of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The School of Nursing Sample Paper provided at the Walden Writing Center provides an example of those required elements (available from the Walden University website found in this week’s Learning Resources). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

· Combine all three parts of this assignment into one Word document including both critique templates and the narrative with your references. Submit this combined document.

Using your course and textbook readings and the South University Online Library, perform research on the following:

• Assessment, diagnostic testing, and management of infectious conditions in a pediatric patient
• Differential diagnoses for presentation of symptoms involving infectious diseases in pediatric patients

After completing your research, consider this scenario:

An eighteen-month-old child, well-known to your practice, presents with a seven-day history of fever ranging from 101 to 104.7 degrees Fahrenheit. On the fourth day of the fever, the emergency department had performed the following tests:

• A blood and urine culture
• A complete blood count
• A comprehensive metabolic panel

The culture reports were found to be negative.

Today, the vitals of the child are the following:

• Temperature: 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit
• Heart rate: 120 beats/minute
• Respiratory rate: 20 breaths/minute
• Blood pressure: 90/40

Physical examination of the child indicates the following positive findings:

• Injected conjunctiva
• Palmar redness
• Magenta-colored lips
• Red macula
• Excoriating rashes in the diaper area

On the basis of the above information, respond to the following:

• What will be your differential diagnoses for this patient?
• What specific physical exam findings support these differential diagnoses?
• Of the differential diagnoses you listed, which would be the most concerning?
• What additional diagnostic tests will you recommend? Why?
• What would be your focus for caregiver education?

Leadership topic:   What Makes a Good Leader?

Delegation in Practice

What does your State Board of Nursing say about Unlicensed Assistive Personnel and their role, and the role of the Registered Nurse? Describe the responsibilities of the Registered Nurse when delegating patient care tasks.

How does the ICU environment differ from a general medical-surgical unit as far as assigned responsibilities for Unlicensed Assistive Personnel? from your textbook(Weiss, S. A. & Tappen, R. M. (2015). Essentials of nursing leadership and management (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: F. A. Davis Company). or from a scholarly source from a previous discussion or assignment from this course and write about its application to nursing practice. Provide definitions, history/background, and major concepts of chosen topic.  Describe the topic’s function in nursing practice by examining at least three different nursing roles (for example, bedside nurse, public health nurse, CNO, unit manager, etc.). Discuss how the leadership topic can be used in your own practice. Discuss your personal growth in regard to your chosen leadership topic. Evaluate personal strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to your career advancement.

Then, discuss the top three traits you feel makes a good nurse leader. Support your statements with examples from your practice experience and scholarly sources.

Assignment Expectations:

Length:  2000 words in length

Structure: Include a title page and reference page in APA format. These do not count towards the minimum word count for this assignment. Your essay must include an introduction and a conclusion.

References: Use appropriate APA style in-text citations and references for all resources utilized to answer the questions. A minimum of three scholarly sources plus the textbook are required.

Requirements:

1. This paper will be graded on quality of paper information, use of citations, use of Standard English grammar, sentence structure, and organization based on the required components.
2. Create this assignment using Microsoft (MS) Word, which is the required format for all Chamberlain documents. You can tell that the document is saved as a MS Word document because it will end in “.docx”.
3. Submit to the appropriate assignment area by 11:59 p.m. MT on Sunday of the week due. Any questions about this paper may be discussed in the weekly Q & A Discussion topic.
4. The length of the paper is to be no greater than three (3) pages, excluding title page and reference page.
5. APA format using the sixth edition manual is required in this assignment, including a title page and reference page. Use APA level 1 headings for the organizational structure of this assignment. Remember that the introduction does not carry a heading that labels it as a level heading in APA format. The first part of your paper is assumed to be the introduction. See the APA manual sixth edition for details. Use the suggested format and headings to organize your assignment:
   1. Include introduction (do not label as a heading in APA format)
   2. Issue and Magnet Model Component Identified
   3. Key Components of Executive Summary
   4. Supporting Evidence
   5. Conclusion

Preparing the paper

Note: Please use the resources in your Roussel textbook, Chapter 15, to assist with how to write an executive summary format to articulate the results of your Magnet report from ANCC.

1. Clearly introduce your executive summary in the introduction paragraph. Include a sentence that states the purpose of your assignment.
2. Clearly identify and articulate the issue and component from the Magnet model to be communicated to the board of directors at SLMC by you, the nurse executive. Discuss how your choice may affect your healthcare environment and transform healthcare.
3. Key components of an executive summary format, related to the results of the Magnet report, should be included and clearly articulated. (Examples are in your textbook or you may search for them on the web). Include in your executive summary how this assignment relates to the Person-centred Framework by McCormack and McCance (2017).
4. Include of a minimum of three sources of scholarly, empirical evidence to support the issue to be communicated.
5. Provide concluding statements that should summarize your overall assignment content.
6. The paper will be no longer than three pages maximum, excluding title and reference page(s).

Note: There are several formats of an executive summary in your text or on the internet. As the nurse executive, you may choose which style you prefer.

1. Title and reference page(s) must be in APA format using the sixth edition manual.
2. Use 12 Times New Roman font and one-inch margins on all sides of the paper.
3. Note: After submitting your assignment to the Week 7 assignment area, please also upload your completed assignment to the Week 8 designated threaded discussion to share with your peers.