ASSESSMENT 2 BRIEF
Course HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing
Subject Code and Title DTH107 Determine Health
Unit(s) of Competency HLTAAP003 Analyse and respond to client health information CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practise
Performance criteria,
Knowledge evidence and Performance assessed PC:
CHCPOL003: 1.1-1.4, 2.1-2.4, 3.1-3.5, 4.1-4.4 HLTAAP003: 1.4
PE:
CHCPOL003: PE1
KE:
CHCPOL003: KE1-7
Title of Assessment Task Assessment 2: Research Project
Type of Assessment Task Written Assessment
Length 1500 words +/- 10%
Submission Due by 11:55pm AEST Sunday end of Module 5.1 (Week 9).
Introduction
Within your scope of practice as an Enrolled Nurse, you are required to apply critical-thinking skills and nursing rationale related to each individual client’s specific nursing care requirements. As a part of this, you need to develop evidence-based practice skills, which involve establishing an information need, gathering information and critically analysing the information in relation to the individual client and your work.
Summary
You will be required to research two health-related issues in your context and develop actions based on research outcomes for management and promotion/communication of these actions. This should be submitted in the form of a research project, using the Research Report template provided in the assessment 2 area in Blackboard.
Please refer to the Task Instructions for details on how to complete this task.
Task Instructions
For this assessment, you must research two (2) issues in nursing and prepare a research project that includes actions for resolving each one. These should be issues you feel need to be addressed to improve professional practice, compliance, education, documentation, morale, or another field.
You may choose the issues you focus on or select from the list below.
• Effect of the ageing workforce on staffing levels
• Retention of adequately trained staff
• Bullying in the workplace
• Maintaining professional capabilities
• Effectively supporting non-English speaking clients
• Adhering to scope of practice expectations
• Rate of advancement in technology
Your assessment must take the form of a report with headings addressing specific criteria. A template has been created to help you do this. To complete your research project, download the ‘Research Project’ template and follow the structure outlined on that document. Then, respond to the research questions provided.
Submit this document as your research project.
You can see the questions below in the Marking Guide, along with a suggestion as to how each one should be answered.
You will be assessed according to the marking guide below, where your responses will be deemed as either satisfactory or not satisfactory. ALL your responses must be marked as satisfactory in order to pass the assessment. If your assessment is not deemed satisfactory, you will be allowed a further second attempt before being awarded a Not satisfactory mark for the assessment.
Research Tips
In addition to the instructions on the Research Project template, you might like to read the tips below. These provide some steps and suggestions on how to conduct your research, where to look for evidence and how to start preparing your response.
1. When identifying the research topic:
• Think about issues that are important to you, your field and which will potentially help improve professional practice approaches or client experiences.
• The research statement presents the purpose of the research in light of a clear and focused topic.
2. Find out what has been written about your topic. A good starting point is the list of references or bibliography of a recent article or book on the topic. Then use other bibliographical sources, including abstracts, electronic data bases and the Internet to search.
3. Suitable databases include: PubMed, Embase, Medline Complete, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, Ebsco
Host, ProQuest Central, ProQuest Public, Natural Medicines Comprehensive, SAGE Research Methods, Alt HealthWatch, Informit Health Databases, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, MeSH, or other peerreviewed databases/journals. Most of these can be accessed through the library website.
4. In searching and retrieving the appropriate literature, the search strategy is important. Search strategies include use of appropriate search terms and synonyms and assessing the results of this initial search. It is important to have predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. For example:
• Publication period – sources should be as current as possible so define by years. For example, from 2010 or 2014 onwards, or similar. For this assignment, use the limiter setting of searching from 5 years ago to now.
• Language – sources should be in English.
• Human/non-human – you may want to decide if you only want to search for research that has been conducted on humans or you may want to include animal studies as well.
5. If you decide that a text is relevant, write down the bibliographical details in full; as the item would appear in your list of references or bibliography.
6. For each topic, focus on between 3-5 key sources to start. You may choose to include or discard these sources depending on their quality, specificity and applicability to your topic.
7. Find the literature. First check whether the material is held at Laureate Library, or you might be able to use interlibrary loans.
8. Read the literature. Record the author and the title and take notes. Your aim is to determine how the topic is approached and what is said about it. As you make notes, ask yourself the following questions about each text.
• What sort of evidence is it?
• What are the aims or hypotheses?
• What is the methodology?
• Does the methodology suit the aims?
• How reliable or valid is it?
• What are the outcomes?
9. Write short summaries for each piece of information you have found - For each relevant text, try to write a short one paragraph summary similar to an abstract.
10. Organise the summaries. Try to identify similarities and group the summaries accordingly. The headings under which the summaries are grouped will vary, depending on the topic and the subject.
11. When writing the research project, begin with an introduction that provides referenced definition of evidence-based practice and how it relates to research and continuous quality improvement. Then give a brief explanation of why EBP is a requirement of nursing practice (i.e. refer to the NMBA standards for practice
https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/codes-guidelines-statements/professional-standards/enrolled-nursestandards-for-practice.aspx )
12. Tips on conducting database searches are available at: http://library.laureate.net.au/research_skills/databases
13. Tips on literature review basics are available at: http://library.laureate.net.au/research_skills/litreview
Assessment Requirements
The assessment is to include in text citations and a reference list following APA referencing style. The APA referencing guide can be located in the Academic Writing Guide at http://library.laureate.net.au/apa. A minimum of 8 references are to be included. These can include journal articles, books, reputable websites, or videos.
Submission Instructions
The assessment should be submitted using the Research Report Template. Submit your final response via the Assessment 2 link in the main navigation menu in the DTH107 subject page. The learning facilitator will provide feedback via the Grade Centre in the LMS portal. Feedback can be viewed in My Grades.
Due date: 11:55pm AEST/AEDT Sunday of Module 5.1 (Week 9).
Assessment Process
• All items must be submitted.
• All items must be satisfactorily answered / addressed / completed for you to achieve a “Satisfactory” outcome for this assessment.
• Please note that this is one assessment from the range of assessment tasks you will complete. You must complete all assessment tasks in this subject. Please refer to your subject outline for information on the other assessment tasks.
• Clear, constructive, and accurate feedback will be given to you on your results and performance.
• The assessment items you submit will be retained by the college as evidence of your performance.
College Policies and Procedures relating to assessments, and associated forms, are available via
http://www.think.edu.au/studying-at-think/policies-and-procedures
Marking Guide
In this table, you will see the assessment questions you must prepare responses for. Also provided is a tip on what you might like to consider when formulating each answer.
Assessment Question Satisfactory Response Tip Result
Step 1: Research and evidence-based practice
Clarify the issues being investigated. Provide a referenced definition of evidence-based practice and how it relates to research and continuous quality improvement. Then give a brief explanation of why EBP is a requirement of nursing practice (i.e. refer to the NMBA standards for practice). Also, make sure you compare the three research methods mentioned.
1.1 Rules of evidence Explain what the ‘rules of evidence’ are in relation to evidence-based practice S NS
1.2 evidence-based practice Provide an APA-referenced definition of evidence-based practice (EBP) and state how it is used S NS
1.3 Research and
Continuous Improvement Explain how EBP is different from ‘research’ and ‘continuous quality improvement’ and explain how they are used S NS
1.4 Research Methods Provide 3 diagrams of EBP, a typical research process and continuous quality improvement S NS
1.5 Duty of Care
Requirements Explain the duty of care requirements associated with EPB and reference S NS
1.6 Research Reasons Describe what each of these varied reasons for undertaking research are (Comparison, Hypothesis testing, Trend identification, Own knowledge extension & Strengthen quality of own practice) S NS
Step 2: Plan the information
Justify why you have chosen the topics and why they need to be investigated. This should include an explanation of current trends or practices related to each topic and where you will search for information.
2.1 Issue Statement Clearly state the two objectives being investigated S NS
2.2 Objectives and Trends of Issues State why each research topic is being investigated, including:
• Two (2) objectives you aim to achieve for each (How will benefit nursing practice?)
• APA-referenced evidence of why each is an issue
• APA referenced example of where each can be seen in practice
• Two (2) ways each issue is currently managed or approached. S NS
2.3 Research Data
Sources List eight (8) credible sources of data you could use to conduct your research, and for each include:
• Resource name
• Resource type (journal, textbook, professional body publication etc)
• Resource website or link. S NS
Step 3: Gather the information
Specify your search strategy i.e. the methods you used to gather the different sources of information and why you chose that method, where you searched for information (i.e. credible health databases), your exclusion and inclusion criteria, and the ways in which you will analyse the validity information.
3.1 Information-gathering Strategy Summarise the strategy you used to gather information noting the sources, you explored, how you determined if the information was relevant and why you left certain resources out S NS
3.2 Systematic Information Summary Using the table, list three (3) information sources you found that relate to each objective. For each resource, you must provide: • An APA references
• A link directly to the information
• The research method you used to source the information
• The resource types. S NS
Step 4: Analyse the information
Assess the information you collected and present your findings. This should include a comparison of different sources, an in-depth look at what they claim and a discussion about the feasibility, risks and benefits associated with what you found. You must then make your own conclusions about the findings from this evidence. Consider any cultural or ethical issues. Use references to support your evaluation.
4.1 Information Validity List three (3) ways you can evaluate the validity of the information sources you have gathered S NS
4.2 Cultural and Ethical
Considerations List three (3) cultural and ethical considerations for research S NS
4.3 Information Analysis
Processes Explain how to undertake each of the following information analysis processes
• comparing
• contrasting
• challenging
• reflecting
• distinguishing relevant from irrelevant
• drawing interdisciplinary connections S NS
4.4 Information
Comparison Using the table, you must compare the various sources of information you gathered, and assess their currency, feasibility, risks, and benefits. In the table, analyse at least two (2) sources of information per objective S NS
Step 5: Use information in practice
Present your conclusions, including an assessment of how the information may be used in practice. Identify any gaps in the research, or issues that require further research or evaluation, and reflect on interdisciplinary issues, such as places where referral or collaboration with other fields is required. Present specific actions that describe how the outcomes of your research can be used in the management of the condition and promoted in practice.
5.1 Use of Information in
Practice In 100 words for each issue, describe what the information you found suggests can be done in your work context to improve, manage or rectify the issue S NS
5.2 Gaps in Information For both issues, identify two (2) areas that require further research or evaluation, and reflect on potential interdisciplinary hurdles, such as places where referral or collaboration with other fields is required S NS
5.3 Actions and Recommendations For each issue, present three (3) specific actions or recommendations to address the outcomes you investigated S NS
Overall Assessment Result S NS
Comments:
Full reference list to be applied APA