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Nursing 435 (Research in Nursing)

Syllabus - Lycoming College - Fall 2001

Meeting Times: Mon & Wed & Fri, 10:15am-11:20am

This one-unit (four-credit) course is a senior year requirement for nursing majors and is taught as a writing intensive (W) course.

Instructors:	Dr. Doris P. Parrish Office: D-211 Phone: (570) 321-4224 Email: parrish@lycoming.edu	Dr. Gene D. Sprechini Office: D-311 Phone: (570) 321-4288 Email: sprgene@lycoming.edu	Janet Hurlbert (Librarian) Phone: (570) 321-4087 Email: hurlbjan@lycoming.edu
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Catalog Description: Expansion of theoretical basis of research methodology with emphasis on analyzing, criticizing and interpreting nursing research. Development of a research proposal focusing on a nursing problem.

Prerequisites: Statistics, Nursing 331, Nursing 333, Nursing 338, or consent of instructor.

Overview: This course is intended to assist the student to appreciate research as a nursing function in the practice of professional nursing. Research design, data collection techniques and the critique of nursing research literature will be emphasized as applicable to the beginning professional practitioner of nursing. The student will identify a clinical nursing problem, formulate a research proposal, and systematically carry out the proposal through the stages of data collection and analysis.

Content:

· The research process - an overview

· Goals of nursing research

· Types of research designs

· Steps of the research process

· Evaluation of research reports

· Utilization of research

Required Texts:

• American Psychological Association. (1995). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (3rd ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
• Burns, N., & Grove, S. K. (2001). The practice of nursing research. Phila.: W. B. Saunders Co.

Articles:

1. Anxiety and Depression: Incidence and Patterns in Patients After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery.
2. Severity of Violence Against Women Correlates with Behavioral Problems in Their Children.
3. Optimal Long-Term Care Nurse-Staffing Levels.
4. NCLEX-RN Performance: Predicting Success on the Computerized Examination.
5. Correlates of Resilience in Homeless Adolescent.
6. Psychosocial Nursing Therapy Following Sudden Cardiac Arrest: Impact on Two-Year Survival.
7. Nurses' Attitudes Toward Clinical Trials at a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Format of Course: Class meetings will involve lecture, discussion, and small group work sessions. Several out of class activities will be assigned. Students are expected to meet with their project instructors at a mutually agreeable time throughout the semester, to discuss project progress and/or problems.

Attendance and Participation: All students are expected to attend class and to participate in all class activities. The final grade may be raised or lowered at the discretion of the instructor(s) on the basis of the students attendance. If a student is unable to be present for an examination due to illness, the instructor is to be notified in advance of the examination. Prior to each class, students are expected to have completed the reading assignment for that class.

Due Dates: Each student is responsible for meeting the deadlines. When necessary, the student is responsible for requesting an extension of the deadline in advance of a due date. Automatic approval of an extension request should not be assumed.

Written Work:

Submissions should be typewritten and double spaced and must follow APA format. All students will be required to utilize a word processing program on a computer. This will facilitate revision and editing.

Qualities which will influence your grade include: Appropriateness, conciseness, comprehensiveness, clarity, accurateness, proper grammar and use of proper format.

The departmental policy regarding missed deadlines for papers will be utilized; this policy is to deduct one letter grade for each day late.

Course Outline and Schedule

Evaluation and Grading:

The final course average is computed from the following:
Evaluation Method	Percent of Final Course Average
Library Practicum	5%
Final Examination	25%
Research Project
Individual Report Submissions (12)	10%
Final Report	50%
Presentation	10%

Required Submissions:

Library Practicum - due 09/14/01

Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) - due 09/21/01

Review of Literature (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/05/01

Revision of Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) - due 10/12/01

Theoretical Framework (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/17/01

Revision of Introduction (Chapter I of the Research Paper) and Review of Literature (in Chapter II of the Research Paper) - due 10/26/01

Letters requesting institutional permission to conduct studies - due 10/31/01

Methodology: Design and Instrumentation (Chapters III-A and III-B of the Research Paper) - due 11/02/01

Methodology: Proposed Treatment of Data (Chapter III-C of the Research Paper) - due 11/09/01

Revision of Chapters I, II, and III - due 11/14/01

Results: Analysis of Findings (Chapter IV of the Research Paper) - due 11/28/01

Discussion: Conclusions and Implications for Nursing (Chapter V of the Research Paper) - due 12/03/01

Abstract of the Research Paper - due 12/05/01

OPTIONAL: Revision of entire research paper (This is an opportunity for students to get feedback and make improvements before the final version of the paper is submitted and graded.) - due 12/07/01

Final Paper - due 12/14/01 by 12:00 noon