NR 439 Week 1 Discussion

NR 439 Week 1 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-439: RN Evidence-Based Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

Week 1 Discussion: Introduction to Evidence-based Practice

Purpose

This week’s discussion focuses on exploring the role of research in nursing and its ethical implications. It aligns with the following Course Outcomes (COs):

• CO 3: Identify ethical issues common to research involving human subjects (PO 6).
• CO 5: Recognize the role of research findings in evidence-based practice (PO 7 & 8).

The assigned readings for this week include:

• Chapter 1: The Importance of Research as Evidence in Nursing
• Chapter 3: Ethical and Legal Considerations in Research

Discussion Topics

After completing the readings and lesson, students are asked to respond to the following prompts:

1. Research Evolution: Explain how research has evolved since the Florence Nightingale era.
2. Research vs. EBP: Discuss how research and evidence-based practice (EBP) differ and how research supports EBP in nursing.
3. Ethical Breach in Research: Describe a historical unethical breach of research conduct and explain how care of study participants can be ensured using ethical or legal considerations.

Research Evolution Since Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale is credited as the pioneer of nursing research. Her groundbreaking work during the Crimean War demonstrated the value of scientific inquiry in improving health outcomes. Using statistical methods, Nightingale documented soldiers’ health conditions, laying the foundation for incorporating nursing education into universities and establishing the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Her efforts have profoundly shaped evidence-based nursing practice, which aims to improve health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities (NINR, 2019).

Research vs. Evidence-Based Practice

While nursing research and evidence-based practice (EBP) are interconnected, they serve distinct purposes. Research is defined as a systematic process of inquiry that provides unbiased, reliable answers to questions about nursing practice (Houser, 2018). In contrast, EBP involves integrating scientific evidence with clinical expertise and patient preferences to inform decision-making (Houser, 2018). Research serves as the foundation for EBP, supporting the triad of clinical experience, patient values, and best available evidence, which guide nursing practice, policies, and guidelines.

Ethical Breach in Research: Foster Children in AIDS Trials

A significant unethical breach occurred between 1985 and 2005, when over 500 foster children in New York City were used as subjects in experimental AIDS medication and vaccine trials. Tragically, 80 children died as a result of these studies (Vera Institute of Justice, 2009). The NYC Child Services, acting as the children’s legal guardians, authorized these trials in exchange for payments, while the research agencies received substantial grants. This situation violated the ethical principle of respect for persons, as the children, being a vulnerable population, lacked the ability to consent and were denied individual advocates to protect their dignity.

To ensure the care of study participants in such cases, ethical guidelines must be strictly adhered to. For instance, providing each participant with an advocate would help safeguard their rights and well-being. Additionally, any research that poses a significant risk of harm or death should be halted immediately, as emphasized in the course material (CCON, 2020).

Summary Table

References

Chamberlain College of Nursing (CCON). (2020). NR-439 RN Evidence-Based Practice; Week 1: Introduction of Evidence-Based Practice [Online lesson]. Downers Grove, IL: DeVry Education Group.

Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: Reading, using, and creating evidence (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

NR 439 Week 1 Discussion

National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). (2019, December 19). Retrieved January 4, 2020, from https://www.nih.gov.

Vera Institute of Justice Final Report (2009): 80 NYC Foster Children Died in AIDS Drug Trials. (2016, September 13). Retrieved January 2, 2020, from https://ahrp.org.