Introduction
Nursing has been developing ever since the nineteenth century. Being an evidence-based area of practice, nursing requires a proper research process. Every implied technique or obtained skill must be justified by the evidence. Since the treatment delivered by nurses can be qualified as a holistic health care approach, the implication of the latest information backed by research is imperative. Moreover, the bachelor must understand the basic principles of nursing research. The respect for patients’ freedoms and rights, and the need to protect patients’ well-being, both mental and physical, form the basis of the individual approach. Thus, nursing research allows for solving ethical problems and understanding the basic duties of the nurse and benefits the quality of healthcare delivery.
Quantitative Research
Quantitative research is mostly based on empirical experience; in other words, on results that can be observed; it is objective and represents a statistical analysis. This kind of research answers the question of why and where it is being conducted and states the subject of the study, the type of data collected, and the method of collection (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). Its focuses are precise and aimed straight at the matter of the study (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). The research is based on cause and effect connection.
One of the most notable and basic designs of quantitative research is the experimental one. This design relies on the cause and effect relationships mentioned above; therefore, the researcher tries to control all elements of the study by forming a group of variables (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). Pretest/post-test design, which compares control and experimental group, and randomized controlled trial design, which involves two, three, or more groups, are used in this approach. The most notable feature of this design is that the “independent variable” is being manipulated to determine its effects on the other variables of the study. Since quantitative research is focused on objective results and matters, it benefits the nurses in their practice by systematizing the list of real outcomes and their causes. This research helps the nurses to treat the patient with an understanding of the problem and its possible causes and provides them with a list of treatment practices justified by empirical analysis.
Qualitative Research
Qualitative research, contrary to the previous one, is based on something that cannot be strictly observed or precisely measured, in other words, on theoretical experience. This research is mostly subjective and studies the knowing-meaning relationships, thus being aimed at discoveries (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). While developing the theory, this research takes the study, the subject of the study, and the reality, shaped by social structures into account (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). This approach is focused on the ever-changing realities of individuality, thus highly benefitting the holistic nursing approach.
It is worth mentioning the ethnographic approach. This approach aims to analyze unique groups in order to understand the reality within the group from its perspective (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). The data collected with this approach is often conducted by reading various documents about the culture or taking interviews with the representatives of this culture (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). The specific notable feature of this design is the importance of different unique approaches to analyzed groups. This qualitative design helps to draw a clinical picture of various illnesses within the group to conduct the most effective treatment. Therefore, qualitative research allows nurses to imply the individualized approach, considering cultural, psychological, and other aspects, thus benefitting the quality of delivered treatment.
Research Sampling
Since the researchers cannot access the data of all target populations, they need to study its fraction, which will be able to properly represent the data, which will be later applied to the whole population. Therefore, the main aim of sampling strategies is to provide the researchers with methods of adequate variable selection (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). Simple random sampling is one of the basic strategies of quantitative research sampling. In this case, the individuals are chosen from the target group entirely randomly (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). Although this approach helps to reduce the selection bias, it also may lead to improper representation of the target population. Another notable approach is stratified sampling. In this approach, the population is divided into subgroups to fully represent the target audience, which in some cases may lead to selection bias (Boswell & Cannon, 2018). Thus, there are several research sampling strategies, and each one has its own positive and negative aspects.
Conclusion
Nursing research is one the most important means to make the nursing practice safe since it provides the medical staff with both practical and theoretical information, forming more systemized approaches to various matters. This approach will help nurses treat the patient using the latest medical and form their own conclusions based on their knowledge. Due to the research, the nurse’s role has significantly evolved. Nowadays, nurses highly contribute to science, providing their own research and providing treatment in a wide variety of settings. Research is critical for creating an evidence-based nursing profession since only a proper analysis can provide a set of reliable data and justify various treatment methods. I hope to utilize my obtained knowledge to develop new progressive treatment practices based on my theoretical and practical knowledge. In addition, this course helped me to understand strategies for gaining academic knowledge basis, which will benefit my professional skills used in my practice as a BSN. Moreover, this learning will allow me to develop an individualized approach to patients. I plan to use this learning in family health nursing, considering the medical history as well as the mental condition of the individual or family. This work allowed me to understand the structure and classification of nursing research and different approaches to data collection.
References
Boswell, C., & Cannon, S. (2018). Introduction to nursing research: Incorporating evidence-based practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.