Research in Nursing and Quality Improvement Example Paper

Describe the difference between research and quality improvement. Provide a workplace example where qualitative and quantitative research is applied and how it was used within your organization.

Research in nursing and quality improvement

Research and quality improvement are important concepts in nursing that are concerned with reducing health care costs while improving patient outcomes. In this case, research in nursing is concerned with conducting methodologically ordered intensive and systematic studies to understand a subject while increasing knowledge. It specifically follows a standard protocol and series of steps to direct new knowledge towards meeting a recognized need. Research in Nursing and Quality Improvement Example Paper   For research involving human subjects, institutional review board approval must be sought to ensure that it is ethical, protects human subjects and has scientific integrity. For instance, a research can be conducted to evaluate the effect of hand hygiene protocols (knowledge) on hospital acquired infection incidences (recognized need).

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The research must be conducted in a systematic manner that ensures the data on the relevant variables is collected while controlling for extraneous variables so that valid comparisons are presented. This research collects new knowledge on the effectiveness of hand hygiene and whether it achieves the intended objective in terms of reducing incidences of hospital acquired infection (Gregory, 2019; Pokorski, 2018). On the other hand, quality improvement is the direct correlation between changes in nursing care delivery and approaches, and the desired outcomes. It has typically centered on addressing six objectives: equitability, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, effectiveness, and safety. Applying the discussed research example to quality improvement would focus on how hand hygiene protocols (improvement to nursing approaches) achieve reductions in hospital acquired infection incidences (desired health outcomes). The example addresses effectiveness’ and safety aims in quality improvement. It addresses the effectiveness aim through presenting science and evidence that would serve as a standard in the delivery of nursing care. It addresses the safety aim by ensuring that patients do not acquire new infections while receiving health care (Gregory, 2019; Pokorski, 2018). In this respect, nursing research and quality improvement have significant differences.

Reference

Gregory, K. E. (2019). Differences between research and quality improvement. Retrieved from https://www.nursingcenter.com/journalarticle?Article_ID=3099809&Journal_ID=54008&Issue_ID=3099787

Pokorski, M. (2018). Current concepts in medical research and practice: advances in experimental medicine and biology. Cham: Springer International Publishing AG. Research in Nursing and Quality Improvement Example Paper