Leslie Gelling
Nurses+QI=better hospital performance? A critical review of the literature
NHS regulators, such as NHS Improvement and the Care Quality Commission, promote staff involvement in quality improvement (QI), while national nursing leaders and the Nursing and Midwifery Council advocate nurses’ involvement in improving services. This article critically explores the evidence base for a national nursing strategy to involve nurses in QI using a literature review. A thematic analysis shows that nurse involvement in QI has several positive outcomes, which are also included in the NHS Improvement’s Single Oversight Framework for NHS Providers. The article concludes that nurse involvement in QI helps improve hospital performance.
Applying for ethical approval for research: the main issues
The need to obtain research ethical approval is common to all research involving human participants. This approval must be obtained before research participants can be approached and before data collection can begin. The process of ethical review is one way that research participants can be confident that possible risks have been considered, minimised and deemed acceptable. This article outlines some of the main issues researchers should consider when planning an application for research ethical approval by answering the following six questions: ‘Do I need research ethical approval?’, ‘How many applications will I need to make?’, ‘Where should I apply for research ethical approval?’, ‘What do I need to include in my application?’, ‘What do research ethics committees look for?’ and ‘What other approvals might I need?’ Answering these questions will enable researchers to navigate the ethical review process.
Qualitative research
Qualitative research has an important role in helping nurses and other healthcare professionals understand patient experiences of health and illness. Qualitative researchers have a large number of methodological options and therefore should take care in planning and conducting their research. This article offers a brief overview of some of the key issues qualitative researchers should consider.
Planning a research project
The planning stage of any research project is one of the most important stages in the research process. This article offers insight into the important issues a researcher needs to consider when planning his or her research, including how to develop a research protocol, obtaining research funding, seeking academic, peer and social support, gaining research ethics and governance approval and planning a research schedule. Careful planning ensures that the research project is achievable and can be completed on time, with the funding available.
Stages in the research process
Research should be conducted in a systematic manner, allowing the researcher to progress from a general idea or clinical problem to scientifically rigorous research findings that enable new developments to improve clinical practice. Using a research process helps guide this process. This article is the first in a 26-part series on nursing research. It examines the process that is common to all research, and provides insights into ten different stages of this process: developing the research question, searching and evaluating the literature, selecting the research approach, selecting research methods, gaining access to the research site and data, pilot study, sampling and recruitment, data collection, data analysis, and dissemination of results and implementation of findings.
Introduction to the research series
THIS ARTICLE PROVIDES an introduction to a series of 26 articles on research in nursing, to be published weekly in forthcoming issues of Nursing Standard, starting this week with ‘Stages in the research process’.
‘Focus, read and be curious’
ELIZABETH ROSSER is professor of nursing and deputy dean (education) at Bournemouth University. Her research interests are in the area of workforce development in health and social care. Elizabeth is president of the Phi Mu chapter (England) of Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI), which recently hosted its inaugural conference in Bournemouth.
Publishing can inspire research
MICHAEL TRAYNOR is professor of nursing policy at Middlesex University. After studying English literature at the University of Cambridge, Professor Traynor’s nursing career started at the Cambridge and Huntingdon School of Nursing. His research interests are varied and include professional identity, managerialism, job satisfaction and bibliometrics. Professor Traynor has published and presented widely and is editor of the journal Health, an interdisciplinary journal for the social study of health, illness and medicine. He has recently been appointed as the next chair of the RCN scientific committee.
Consumer involvement in research
THE STANDING Group of Consumers in Research at the Department of Health demonstrates the growing interest in healthcare research. The group is made up of consumer organisations, researchers, health care professionals, managers and social workers. Its objective is to review ways in which consumers can become more involved in research.
The role of hope for relatives of critically ill patients: a review of the literature
If nurses are going to be able to help relatives meet their need for hope, they must first develop a better understanding of the concept and what it means for relatives.
Ethical principles in healthcare research
Ethical principles underpin decision making in the research process. This article considers the seven ethical principles that are most frequently highlighted in the literature. Although the principles will be considered individually, they are not mutually exclusive, and the article demonstrates that they are closely linked.