NUR2300 Research Methods for Nursing

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

The professional practice of the Registered Nurse is informed by nursing research. Graduates with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing are expected to effectively utilize research methods for nursing and actively participate in the Scholarship of Nursing to provide evidence for their own practice and for the discipline of nursing. This course provides students with opportunities to apply a theoretical knowledge base to practical exercises which prepare them for their roles in scholarship and research in Nursing.

SYNOPSIS

The course provides an introduction to the role of research processes and scholarship activity in the Nursing profession. Content includes an examination of the research process and methodologies (qualitative and quantitative). Issues of validity, reliability, sampling, generalisation and application of findings are addressed from the research consumer perspective. The professional nurse's role in the dissemination of knowledge is examined as a scholarly expectation including the skills of scientific writing, publication and professional speaking. BN students (Pre-reg) may only enrol in the EXT mode with the permission of the Examiner. For BN (Post-Reg) students there are no pre-requisites for enrolment in this course.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. describe the various approaches to the research process; (Assessment items 1, 4)
2. identify appropriate basic techniques to collect and analyse data at a beginning level; (Assessment items 2, 4)
3. describe the link between nursing research and professional practice; (Assessment items 3, 4)
4. critically examine the issues and ethical considerations which impact on Nursing research; (Assessment items 3, 4) and
5. demonstrate achievement of professional scholarship skills such as scientific writing, formulation of a research proposal and the critique of published studies. (Assessment items 1, 2, 3, 4)

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Instructional Guide 2008, Course NUR2300 - Research methods for nursing, USQ Publications, Toowoomba.

Schneider, Z & Elliott, D 2007, Nursing midwifery research: methods, critical appraisal for evidence-based practice, 3rd edn, Mosby, Sydney.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Beanland, C et all 1999, Nursing Research: Methods Critical Appraisal & Utilization, Mosby, Sydney.

Brink, P & Wood, M 1994, Basic Steps in Planning Nursing Research: From Planning to Appraisal, 4th edn, Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston.

Burnard, P & Morrison, P 1994, Nursing Research in Action: Developing Basic Skills, 2nd edn, MacMillan, England.

Clifford, C 1997, Nursing and Health Care Research: A skills-based introduction, 2nd edn, Prentice Hall, London.

Crookes, P & Davies, S 1998, Research into Practice, Balliere Tindall, Edinburgh.

Dempsey, PA & Dempsey, Ad 1996, Nursing Research: text and workbook, 4th edn, Little/Brown, Boston.

LoBiondo-Wood, G & Haber, J 2002, Nursing Research: Methods, Critical Appraisal and Utilisation, 5th edn, CV Mosby Company, St Louis.

Mateo, MA & Kirchhoff, KT 1999, Using and Conducting Nursing Research in the Clinical Setting, 2nd edn, WB Saunders, Philadelphia.

Polgar, S & Thomas, SA 2000, Introduction to Research in the Health Sciences, 4th edn, Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh.

Polit, DF, Beck, CT & Hungler, BP 2001, Essentials of Nursing Research Methods Appraisal and Utilization (Both text and Study Guide), 5th edn, Lippincott company, Philadelphia.

Roberts, K & Taylor, B 2002, Nursing Research Processes: an Australian perspective, 2nd edn, Nelson Thomson Learning, South Melbourne.

Talbot, LA (Ed) 1995, Principles and Practice of Nrusing Research, Mosby, St Louis.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Groups A, B and C and Group 1 (Fraser Coast) due date is 5.00pm 5 September, 2008. Groups D, E and F and Group 2 (Fraser Coast) due date is 5.00pm 3 October, 2008.

2.

The due date will be advised by the examiner throughout the course.

3.

The due date will be advised by the examiner throughout the course.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   Tutorials are scheduled for this course. It is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete the three assignments.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without (prior) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for that assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks/grades obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no examination in this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   As there are no examinations in this course, there will be no deferred or supplementary examinations.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 25 Aug 2008.