Nursing leadership in academic hospital - Essay Example

Qualitative research critique School: April 13, Qualitative research critique Empirical studies play an important role in nursing. Nurses rely on such studies for evidence-based practice and evidence based research for better practices. Such a reliance however require analytical approaches and skills that are necessary for critiquing existing literature towards application of information in either an evidence based practice or evidence based research. This paper demonstrates analyzing potentials using a qualitative research-nursing article, ‘Nursing leadership in an academic hospital in Gauteng’ that Maboko authored and the Journal of Nursing Management published in the year 2012. The researcher does not identify the research tradition for quantitative study that he used. He only clarifies that a qualitative research design was used. The research tradition can however be inferred from the study’s objectives and the data collection process. The inferred qualitative research tradition is phenomenology, a qualitative research tradition that relies on research participants’ experiences, from their perspectives, to collect and analyze data. It is commonly achieved through such data collection methods as interviews and focus group discussion (Polit and Beck, 2010). The study’s objectives identify interest in experiences of registered nurses with respect to leadership styles and associated issues and in perceptions of nurse managers, aspects that relate phenomenology’s focus on people’s experiences. The study’s data collection procedure that included group discussions and interviews on experience also supports the inferred qualitative research tradition (Maboko, 2012). The study’ purpose is consistent with the research design, as inferred, that the researcher implemented. The main purpose of the study was description of leadership nursing leadership in a South Africa’s academic hospital and phenomenology design that relies on people’s experiences is the most suitable for investigation. This is because experience offers a rich basis for understanding tenets of a leadership approach that can be described from its exact content. Phenomenology is also the best design because it promises accurate results. Being based on experience, the design brings the reality in leadership in the institution because it relates to experience when both research participants and the institution’s leadership were not conscious of the study. Even though the researchers did not state, in an explicit manner, the study’s research question, this can be inferred and is consistent with the inferred research design. The following is the inferred research question (Maboko, 2012). What are your experiences with leadership and leadership styles in the academic hospital? This is consistent with the design because it relies on experience for a descriptive study (Maboko, 2012; May and Holmes, 2012). Given the congruence between the inferred research question and the inferred research design, the research design is appropriate for the study because it meets the empirical study’s main aim of answering a research question. The design also allows for an in-depth understanding of the subject matter because reliance on experience offers rich information for such a level of analysis. Application of multiple data collection techniques and many research participants also shows high level of intensiveness in the design in exploring leadership in the institution (Maboko, 2012). The report describes the conceptual framework on which it is based. It relies on Maxwell’s four pillars of leadership that outlines four main characteristics of effective leadership and elements of the features. According to the framework, “relationships, equipping, leadership, and attitude” are the four main characteristics and each of them has distinct elements (Maboko, 2012, p. 915). These offered a basis for framing questions in group discussions and interviews to facilitate the study (Maboko, 2012). The data analysis approach was appropriate to the nature of the data. Two key approaches are evident and are characteristic of qualitative data analysis that is applicable to data collected from a phenomenology study. An on-going and emerging process is one of the aspects of the data analysis and is characteristic of the qualitative data analysis approach (Gerish and Lacey, 2013). Transformation of qualitative data to quantitative data for effective analysis that is more objective is another feature of qualitative data analysis that is therefore applicable to phenomenology design. The data analysis was therefore appropriate for the design (Maboko, 2012). The data analysis process suggests application of category scheme in data analysis because data was coded. There is, however, no description of the applied category scheme. The implied category scheme appear logical because it was derived from characteristics of the collected data and on researcher’s rationale. The method was manual, an aspect that establishes concerns with accuracy. A computerized approach would however resolve this concern (Maboko, 2012). The report is clear on the data analysis approach but does not mention whose approach it applied. Data analysis procedure involved transcription of information from interviews that were captured in tape records. A review of the transcripts followed and emerging themes were noted. Each interview was then selected and reviewed and data coded for descriptive analysis (Maboko, 2012). Themes emerged by the key features of Maxwell’s framework. Autocratic leadership was one of the themes. In addition, there was lack of empowerment and acknowledgement of subordinates’ skills. Poor relationships, favoritism, poor communication, and discrimination in relationships are other major themes that emerged from data analysis. Other major themes were partiality of leaders and judgmental attitude. The themes are relevant to the study’s objectives and narrative (Maboko, 2012). The study offers no evidence of accuracy and replicability of its data analysis procedure. The study however developed a meaningful and insightful picture of the study’s interest through a succinct description of leadership in the target academic hospital. The developed themes from the study’s results explain this. The themes also succeeded in demonstrating social and emotional perspective of the research participants through their perceptions on relationships and attitudes among leaders. The researcher used triangulation and a systematic approach to data analysis to enhance trustworthiness and integrity of the inquiry process. Triangulation and the systematic approach to the study establish a high level of integrity and trustworthiness. The study, however, does not address transferability of findings but this is not necessary for a qualitative study (Maboko, 2012). The study identifies limitations and their possible consequences to credibility of the findings and their interpretations. A national strike is an example of the limitations that could have led to biased perceptions. Interpretation of the study’s results was done in light of findings from existing literature as the author makes such references. Practical clinical implications are identified in improvements in different categories of care services and care policies (Maboko, 2012). The study is therefore informative and identifies credibility and trustworthiness. It can therefore be used in evidence based practice to improve leadership in the hospital and to inform studies on leadership and other subjects in nursing set ups. References Gerish, K. and Lacey, A. (2013). The research process in nursing. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. Maboko, D. (2012). Nursing leadership in academic hospital in Gauteng. Journal of Nursing Management, 20(7), 912-920. May, A. and Holmes, S. (2012). Introduction to nursing research: Developing research awareness. Boca Raton, CRC Press. Polit, D. and Beck, C. (2010). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Read More