Discussion: Validity in Quantitative Research Designs

Validity in research refers to the extent researchers can be confident that the cause and effect they identify in their research are in fact causal relationships. If there is low validity in a study, it usually means that the research design is flawed and the results will be of little or no value. Four different aspects of validity should be considered when reviewing a research design: statistical conclusion validity, internal validity, construct validity, and external validity. In this Discussion, you consider the importance of each of these aspects in judging the validity of quantitative research.

To prepare:

Review the information in Chapter 10 of the course text on rigor and validity.

Read the method section of one of the following quasi-experimental studies (also located in this week’s Learning Resources). Identify at least one potential concern that could be raised about the study’s internal validity.

Metheny, N. A., Davis-Jackson, J., & Stewart, B. J. (2010). Effectiveness of an aspiration risk-reduction protocol. Nursing Research, 59(1), 18–25.

Padula, C. A., Hughes, C., & Baumhover, L. (2009). Impact of a nurse-driven mobility protocol on functional decline in hospitalized older adults. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 24(4), 325–331.

Yuan, S., Chou, M., Hwu, L., Chang, Y., Hsu, W., & Kuo, H. (2009). An intervention program to promote health-related physical fitness in nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(10), 1,404–1,411.

Consider strategies that could be used to strengthen the study’s internal validity and how this would impact the three other types of validity.

Think about the consequences of an advanced practice nurse neglecting to consider the validity of a research study when reviewing the research for potential use in developing an evidence-based practice.

Post the title of the study that you selected and your analysis of the potential concerns that could be raised about the study’s internal validity. Propose recommendations to strengthen the internal validity and assess the effect your changes could have with regard to the other three types of validity. Discuss the dangers of failing to consider the validity of a research study.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

Respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:

Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, and evidence. Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.

Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own review of the literature in the Walden Library.

Validate an idea with your own experience and additional sources.

Discussion: Validity in Quantitative Research Designs

Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.

Please use the below link for template formatting:

http://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates

Required Readings

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2017). Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (10th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.

Chapter 10, “Rigor and Validity in Quantitative Research”

This chapter introduces the concept of validity in research and describes the different types of validity that must be addressed. Key threats to validity are also explored.

Chapter 11, “Specific Types of Quantitative Research”

This chapter focuses on the specific types of quantitative research that can be selected. The focus is on the purpose of the research rather than the research design. These include such approaches as clinical trials, evaluation research, health services and outcomes research, needs assessments, or replication studies.

Cantrell, M. A. (2011). Demystifying the research process: Understanding a descriptive comparative research design. Pediatric Nursing, 37(4), 188–189.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

The author of this article discusses the primary aspects of a prominent quantitative research design. The article examines the advantages and disadvantages of the design.

Schultz, L. E., Rivers, K. O., & Ratusnik, D. L. (2008). The role of external validity in evidence-based practice for rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Psychology, 53(3), 294–302.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

This article details the results of a study that sought to balance concern for rigor with concern for relevance. The authors of the article derive and determine a rating format for relevance and apply it to cognitive rehabilitation.

Note: For the Discussion this week, you will need to read the method section of one of the following quasi-experimental studies. Refer to the details provided in the Week 6 Discussion area.

Metheny, N. A., Davis-Jackson, J., & Stewart, B. J. (2010). Effectiveness of an aspiration risk-reduction protocol. Nursing Research, 59(1), 18–25.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Padula, C. A., Hughes, C., & Baumhover, L. (2009). Impact of a nurse-driven mobility protocol on functional decline in hospitalized older adults. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 24(4), 325–331.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Yuan, S.-C., Chou, M.-C., Hwu, L.-J., Chang, Y.-O., Hsu, W.-H., & Kuo, H.-W. (2009). An intervention program to promote health-related physical fitness in nurses. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(10), 1,404–1,411.

Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Walden University. (n.d.a.). Paper templates. Retrieved July 23, 2012, from http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/57.htm

This resource provides you access to the School of Nursing Sample Paper, which will serve as a template for formatting your papers.

Document: Critique Template for a Qualitative Study (Word document)

Note: You will use this document to complete this week’s Assignment.

Document: Critique Template for a Quantitative Study (Word document)

Discussion: Core Competencies of Leaders and Managers in Healthcare Settings

Note: Initial postings must be 250-350 words (not including references).

Direct care settings [noun]
“Those organizations that provide care directly to a patient, resident or client who seeks services from the organization” (Buchbinder & Thompson, 2010, pp. 33–34).

Non–direct care settings [noun]
Organizations “not directly involved in providing care to persons needing health services, but rather support the care of individuals through products and services made available to direct care settings” (Buchbinder & Shanks, 2019, pp. 1–2).

One of the many differentiators in terms of healthcare leadership is setting. Healthcare leaders and managers may choose to work in settings that provide direct services, such as a hospital or clinic—or nondirect services—such as a community health foundation. Why might healthcare professionals choose to work in one path over another? And what particular characteristics, roles, and functions are needed to successfully manage one type of setting over another?

To prepare for this Discussion:

• Review the profiles of the various healthcare managers who work in a healthcare setting in this week’s Required Media. (Click on the organizational charts to learn more about the healthcare professionals in direct, nondirect, and physician practice settings.

References:
Buchbinder, S. B., & Thompson, J. M. (2010). Career opportunities in health care management: Perspectives from the field. Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

By Day 4

Post a comprehensive response to the following:

• Explain the roles and functions of healthcare managers and leaders in direct and nondirect service healthcare settings.
• Select one individual from a direct care setting and one individual from a nondirect setting in the Welcome to Waldenville  (http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/HLTH/4000/01/mm/interactive-map/index.html), and describe their core competencies.
  • How are these core competencies of the featured leaders similar and different?
  • In which setting would you prefer to work, and why?

Deductive arguments are top-down, working from general principles to specific cases. Inductive reasoning, on the other hand, is bottom-up, working from specific observations and looking for patterns that lead to a general conclusion. Your career path in healthcare and health-related fields will present many problems that will require critical reasoning. Think about potential issues or even issues you have already encountered. Determine what type of critical reasoning – inductive or deductive – best suits the situation – or do you need both? If you are short on ideas, use one of these scenarios as a starting point:

• Suppose you are on a committee that has to decide whether to cut nursing staff or social services staff. How would you approach the problem?
• Suppose your hospital suddenly sees an enormous increase in emergency room patients, and you are on a committee to investigate the problem and relieve pressure on the ER. How would you approach the problem?

Follow-Up Post Instructions
Respond to at least two peers or one peer and the instructor. Further the dialogue by providing more information and clarification.

Let’s discuss

Professor Stephens

Jackson, D. & Newberry, P. (2016). Critical thinking: A user’s manual (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Wadsworth: Cengage Learning.

Trochim, W. (2006). Deduction & Induction.  Retrieved from https://socialresearchmethods-.net/kb/dedind.php

Question 1 A nurse is developing a care plan for a patient who has multiple sclerosis. An expected outcome for the patient who is receiving glatiramer would be a decrease in

A) chest pain
B) fatigue
C) breathing difficulties
D) heart palpitations

Question 2 A nurse is teaching a patient about his newly prescribed drug, colchicine, for gout. The nurse will instruct the patient to avoid which of the following foods?

A) Green beans
B) Shrimp
C) Eggs
D) Milk

Question 3 A patient with type 1 diabetes has been admitted to the hospital for orthopedic surgery and the care team anticipates some disruptions to the patient’s blood glucose levels in the days following surgery. Which of the following insulin regimens is most likely to achieve adequate glycemic control?

A) Small doses of long-acting insulin administered four to five times daily
B) Doses of basal insulin twice daily with regular insulin before each meal
C) Large doses of rapid-acting insulin combined with long-acting insulin each morning and evening
D) Divided doses of intermediate-acting insulin every 2 hours, around the clock

Question 4 A 65-year-old woman has an advanced form of rheumatoid arthritis. Her treatment includes a regular dosage of methotrexate. The nurse will advise her to take which of the following vitamin supplements while taking the drug?

A) Vitamin A
B) Vitamin B
C) Vitamin C
D) Vitamin D

Question 5 A 49-year-old woman has been diagnosed with myalgia. The physician has recommended aspirin. The patient is concerned that the aspirin will upset her stomach. The nurse will encourage the patient to

A) crush the tablet before swallowing
B) swallow the tablet whole
C) swallow the tablet with milk or food
D) avoid drinking milk for 3 hours after swallowing the tablet

Question 6 A nurse is working with a 57-year-old man who is a former intravenous drug abuser. He has been prescribed a weekly dosage of methotrexate for his rheumatoid arthritis. Which of the following will the nurse include in her teaching plan for this patient?

A) Avoid high-fat foods
B) Drink plenty of water every day
C) Take the tablets before bedtime
D) Avoid red meat

Question 7 A male patient with a diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is in the clinic to discuss with the nurse the possibility of self-administration of glatiramer. During the patient education session for self-administration, the nurse will emphasize

A) the need to rotate the injection site of the drug
B) the need to avoid crushing the tablet
C) the need to place the tablet under the tongue
D) the need to use only the thigh muscle for the drug injection site

Question 8 A patient in need of myocardial infarction prophylaxis has been prescribed sulfinpyrazone for gout. Which of the following will the nurse monitor the patient most closely for?

A) Hypothermia
B) Hypotension
C) Renal dysfunction
D) Bleeding

Question 9 A nurse will monitor which of the following when assigned to a patient taking allopurinol for chronic gout who visits the clinic every 2 months?

A) Liver function tests
B) Blood sugar levels
C) Blood pressure
D) Body temperature

Question 10 Which of the following would be the most important safety-related instruction for a nurse to give to a patient taking baclofen (Lioresal)?

A) Do not walk or drive after taking the drug
B) Discontinue the use of alcohol
C) Learn to self-administer the drug
D) Take a laxative when needed

Question 11 A diabetic patient being treated for obesity tells the nurse that he is having adverse effects from his drug therapy. The patient has been taking dextroamphetamine for 2 weeks as adjunct therapy. Which of the following adverse effects would need the nurse’s immediate attention?

A) Decreased libido
B) Increased blood glucose
C) Dry eyes
D) Jittery feeling

Question 12 A nurse is caring for a patient who has been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine (Synthroid) has been prescribed.Before the drug therapy is started, the nurse will assess for which of the following?

A) History of taking anticoagulant drugs
B) Allergy to seafood
C) Hirsutism
D) The patient’s age

Question 13 A nurse is instructing a patient in the administration of regular insulin by the subcutaneous route. Which of the following strategies would the nurse suggest if the goal is to promote absorption of the regular insulin?

A) Rotate injection sites by using the arm one day, the stomach the next day, and the thigh the day after and then repeating the cycle
B) Select one injection site for regular insulin injections and use it exclusively
C) Administer the medication 30 to 60 minutes after a meal
D) Select one anatomic area for regular insulin injections and then use serial locations within that area.

Question 14 A nurse is caring for a male patient who has a spinal cord injury due to a motorcycle accident. He has been taking dantrolene (Dantrium) for 2 weeks. The nurse will monitor which of the following?

A) Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time
B) Urine specific gravity
C) Alanine aminotransferase and total bilirubin levels
D) Follicle-stimulating hormone levels

Question 15 The nurse is conducting a medication reconciliation of a new resident of a long-term care facility. The nurse notes that the resident takes allopurinol on a daily basis for the treatment of gout.What is the primary purpose of this drug?

A) To balance urate concentration and prevent gout attacks
B) To promote the remodeling of damaged synovium
C) To potentiate the metabolism of dietary purines
D) To achieve pain relief in joints affected by gout

Question 16 A 33-year-old man has developed acute gouty arthritis. He has been prescribed colchicine. When developing a care plan for this patient, which factor will be most important for the nurse to consider?

A) Dietary habits
B) Work environment
C) Typical daily fluid intake
D) Ethnicity

Question 17 During long-term desmopressin therapy in a 48-year-old woman, it will be most important for the nurse to assess which of the following?

A) The patient’s environment
B) The patient’s diet
C) The condition of the patient’s skin
D) The condition of the patient’s nasal passages

Question 18 A patient is taking gabapentin (Neurontin) for spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis. Which of the following should be the priority for monitoring?

A) Hepatic function
B) Cardiac function
C) Respiratory function
D) Renal function

Question 19 Following an assessment by her primary care provider, a 70-year-old resident of an assisted living facility has begun taking daily oral doses of levothyroxine. Which of the following assessment findings should prompt the nurse to withhold a scheduled dose of levothyroxine?

A) The resident has not eaten breakfast because of a recent loss of appetite
B) The resident’s apical heart rate is 112 beats/minute with a regular rhythm
C) The resident had a fall during the night while transferring from her bed to her bathroom
D) The resident received her annual influenza vaccination the previous day

Question 20 To minimize the risk of adverse effects of glucagon when given to an unconscious diabetic patient, as the patient regains consciousness, the nurse should

A) administer calcium supplements
B) position the patient in the side-lying position
C) administer carbohydrates
D) monitor for nausea and vomiting

Question 21 A 34-year-old male patient is prescribed methimazole (MMI). The nurse will advise him to report which of the following immediately?

A) Vertigo
B) Intolerance to cold
C) Loss of appetite
D) Epigastric distress

Question 22 A male patient is to begin glyburide (Diabeta) for type 2 diabetes. Before the drug therapy begins, a priority action by the nurse will be to assess the patient’s

A) blood pressure
B) potassium level
C) use of alcohol
D) use of salt in his diet

Question 23 A 43-year-old woman was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 2 years ago and has experienced a recent exacerbation of her symptoms, including muscle spasticity. Consequently, she has been prescribed Dantrolene (Dantrium). In light of this new addition to her drug regimen, what teaching point should the woman’s nurse provide?

A) “This will likely relieve your muscle spasms but you’ll probably develop a certain amount of dependence on the drug over time.”
B) “We’ll need to closely monitor your blood sugar levels for the next week.”
C) “There’s a small risk that you might experience some hallucinations in the first few days that you begin taking this drug.”
D) “You might find that this drug exacerbates some of your muscle weakness while it relieves your spasticity.”

Question 24 A nurse is instructing a patient who was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis about dantrolene (Dantrium). The patient is a 38-year-old-male and the foreman for a construction company. In order to minimize one important adverse effect of the drug, the nurse will give the patient which of the following instructions?

A) Eat a high-protein diet
B) Decrease the dosage if any adverse effect is experienced
C) Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen whenever he is in direct sunlight
D) Have a complete blood cell count done weekly

Question 25 A 40-year-old woman with a diagnosis of fibromyalgia has been prescribed cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) as an adjunct to her existing drug regimen. What nursing diagnosis should the nurse prioritize when updating the nursing care plan for this patient?

A) Risk for Injury related to CNS depressant effects
B) Diarrhea related to anticholinergic effects
C) Altered Nutrition, Less than Body Requirements, related to appetite suppression
D) Impaired Swallowing related to increased muscle tone

Question 26 A 70-year-old woman who is on long-term ibuprofen therapy for osteoarthritis has returned to the clinic for her regular 6-month visit. In the last couple of months, she has been having increasing periods of abdominal pain. The nurse suspects that this pain may be related to

A) anemia
B) peptic ulcer disease or gastritis
C) interstitial nephritis
D) constipation

Question 27 A 13-year-old patient has juvenile arthritis. He has recently had oral surgery and was told by the surgeon to take aspirin for the pain. The nurse will monitor for which of the following?

A) Bronchoconstriction
B) Hepatotoxicity
C) Aplastic anemia
D) Agranulocytosis

Question 28 A nurse is caring for a 61-year-old man who has had a severe attack of gout while in the hospital for food poisoning. The nurse administers colchicine intravenously in order to

A) avoid aggravating the gastrointestinal tract
B) ensure quick distribution of the drug
C) prevent the risk of infection or bleeding
D) minimize the risk of depressed bone marrow function

Question 29 A 66-year-old woman has experienced a significant decline in her quality of life as a result of worsening rheumatoid arthritis. Her physician has prescribed etanercept and the nurse is responsible for facilitating this new aspect of the patient’s drug regimen. This will involve the administration of

A) daily, outpatient intravenous therapy
B) daily, oral administration
C) weekly subcutaneous injections
D) weekly administration of an enteric coated tablet

Question 30 A clinic nurse is following a 9-year-old boy who is taking somatropin. Which of the following will the nurse monitor periodically?

A) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) levels
B) Height
C) Dehydration
D) Water retention

THIS ASSIGNMENT IS IN 2 PARTS (2 PROJECT PAPERS)

Please, kindly cover all aspects of the questions (No Plagiarism)

Topic: Making the Case for Evidence-Based Practice

Evidence-Based Practice Proposal – Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness Assessment

Details:

Before making a case for an evidence-based project, it is essential to understand the culture of the organization in order to begin assessing its readiness for EBP implementation. Select an appropriate organizational culture survey tool and use this instrument to assess the organization’s readiness.

1. Develop an analysis of 250 words from the results, addressing your organization’s readiness level, possible project barriers and facilitators, as well as how to integrate clinical inquiry.

2. Make sure to include the rationale for the survey categories scores that were significantly high and low, incorporating details and/or examples. Also explain how to integrate clinical inquiry into the organization, providing strategies that strengthen the organizations weaker areas.

3. Submit a summary of your results. The actual survey results do not need to be included.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is not required.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Upon receiving feedback from the instructor, revise “Section A: Organizational Culture and Readiness Assessment” for your final paper submission. This will be a continuous process throughout the course for each section.

Evidence-Based Practice Proposal – Section B: Problem Description

Details:

Write a paper of 500-750 words (not including the title page and reference page) on your proposed problem description for your EBP project. The paper should address the following:

1. Describe the background of the problem. Tell the story of the issue and why it deserves attention.

2. Identify the stakeholders/change agents. Who, or what organizations, are concerned, may benefit from, or are affected by this proposal. List the interested parties, patients, students, agencies, Joint Commission, etc.

3. Use the feedback from the Topic 2 main forum post and refine your PICOT question. Make sure that the question fits with your graduate degree specialization.

4. State the purpose and project objectives in specific, realistic, and measurable terms. The objective should address what is to be gained. This is a restatement of the question, providing focus. Measurements need to be taken before and after the evidence-based practice is introduced to identify the expected changes.

5. 5) Provide supportive rationale that the problem or issue is an important one for nursing to resolve using relevant professional literature sources.

6. Develop an initial reference list to assure that there is adequate literature to support your evidence-based practice project. Follow the “Steps to an Efficient Search to Answer a Clinical Question” box in chapter 3 of the textbook. Use “NUR-699 Search Method Example” to assist you.

7. 7) The majority of references should be research articles. However, national sources such as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS), or the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and others may be used when you are gathering statistics to provide the rationale for the problem.

8. Once you get into the literature, you may find there is very little research to support your topic and you will have to start all over again. Remember, in order for this to be an evidence-based project, you must have enough evidence to introduce this as a practice change. If you find that you do not have enough supporting evidence to change a practice, then further research would need to be conducted.

Prepare this assignment according to the APA guidelines found in the APA Style Guide. An abstract is not required.

You are required to submit this assignment to Turnitin.

Upon receiving feedback from the instructor, refine “Section B: Problem Description” for your final submission. This will be a continuous process throughout the course for each section.

NUR699.R.SearchMethod_student.docx ATTACHED