Neonatal, Paediatric, and Child Health Nursing by New N and Bogossian F - Article Example

Guided critical review of a journal article: New, N., & Bogossian, F. (2008). Nurse led clinical research: neonatal nurses’ perceptions and experiences. Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Nursing, 11(3), 13-18. 1. Context of the paper 1.1 What were the aims of the study? Study purpose outlines the aim of the study (Bryanton et al.2008). It often appears in the abstract and at the end of the introduction. The aim of the study was clearly and precisely presented in the abstract and was also mentioned at the end of the introduction to set the pace for literature review. The aim of the study was to understand the experiences of clinical neonatal nurses in participating or conducting nurse led clinical research. 2. Research design 2.1 What was the design of the study? (2 marks) Research design is the structure of an inquiry (Maryann, 2011). It constitutes logical matter instead of a logistical one. It ensures that that the evidence collected answers the questions unambiguously (Simmons & Sherwood, 2009). The research employed a qualitative research design. A qualitative research design involves answering research questions related to experiences of human beings. The data obtained is mainly in terms of text or words. These texts and words usually elucidate what the people experience. The experiences form the basis of the study. The qualitative research design covers various concepts including grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography and case studies. In this study, the authors employed phenomenology concept. 2.2 Identify and clearly describe three key features of the research design (6 marks) One of the features of qualitative research design is that it entails observation of people in their natural setting or analysis of symbols used by these people (Wendy & Kathleen, 2009). The design attempts to interpret or make sense of the meaning derived from phenomena by people. Another feature of qualitative design is that it brings together various empirical materials in order to describe problematic and routine moments and meanings in the lives of individuals (Kelly & Ahem, 2009). The empirical materials that might be utilized include case study, life history, interviews, and personal experience, observation of participants and analysis of visual and historical texts. The final feature of qualitative research design is that it makes various assumptions such as ontological assumptions, epistemological assumptions, axiological assumptions, rhetorical assumption and methodological assumptions (Maryann, 2011). Ontological assumption is the researcher assumes that social actors construct realities. Under the epistemological assumption, the object of research interacts with the researcher and the researcher can affect the object. Axiological assumption is assumed that values have privileged position. Methodological assumption asserts that social actors’ meanings can only be elucidated via close interaction between study respondents and the investigator. Rhetorical assumption asserts that research is often written in the first person to indicate that the investigator is involved and passionate about his/her work. 2.3 Why is the research design appropriate for the study? The research design was appropriate because the investigators intended to study the experiences of clinical neonatal nurses (Kelly & Ahem, 2009). Thus qualitative research design was the only design that could allow them to capture the experiences of these nurses in their natural settings. The semi-structured interviews allowed the investigators to capture the experiences of these nurses appropriately as opposed to is they used quantitative design (Maryann, 2011). The design was utilized to understand the experiences of clinical neonatal nurses in participating or conducting nurse led clinical research. It is near impossible to address this research question using other research designs such as quantitative design. Thus, qualitative method was the only method, which could answer this question conclusively. Thus, it was used to provide better understanding of the experiences of these nurses. 3. Sampling 3.1 Who were the study participants? Study participants are a representative population of the population being studied. The study participants in this study were five nurses. 3.2 How was the sample selected? Recruitment in research involves a set of practices and activities used for identifying sufficient numbers and quality of persons fit for a given study (Kelly & Ahem, 2009). Recruitment of participants in qualitative research depends on the exposure or experience to the phenomenon under study. In the study a purposive sampling approach of five clinical neonatal nurses from two designated neonatal nurseries located in metropolitan and regional centres in South East Queensland, Australia was undertaken. 3.3 Was the sampling technique appropriate for the research design? Why/why not? Purposive sampling was appropriate for this study. This is because the study purposive sampling implies that the researcher is only interested in the people of interest to his/her study. in this case, the researchers were interested in clinical neonatal nurses in nurse led research. Thus, purposive sampling was the best way of sampling that allowed the researcher to collect appropriate data to answer their study questions. 4. Data Collection 4.1 How was the data collected? Semi structured interviews were used to collect data in the study being reviewed. This allowed the investigator to use both open ended and close-ended questions to interview the study participants. Interviews are simple, efficient and a practical way of getting information about things, which cannot be easily observed. The interviews were audiotape with accompanying brief notes made during the interviewing process. 4.2 Was the data collection method appropriate for the study question and the research design? Why/why not? The semi-structured interview was an appropriate method of data collection (Kelly & Ahem, 2009). This is because it allowed participants to generate their own ideas while still ensuring that the descriptive content focused on relevant issues. The method allowed the researchers to get information about the experiences of the clinical neonatal nurses, which cannot be easily observed (Maryann, 2011). Since it is not possible to observe the experiences of nurses in such scenario, semi structured interviews was the best method to collect such data. Given that the researchers were interested in the experiences of clinical neonatal nurses, this method of data collection suited the chosen qualitative research design. 4.3 How did the researchers determine the sample size? Why did they stop recruiting participants? The researchers determined the research sample size based on new themes emerging from newly sampled neonatal nurses who were only interviewed once. The researchers stopped after interviewing the fifth nurses and realizing that no new themes were emerging. Thus, the researchers concluded the sampling because no new themes were emerging from newly sampled neonatal nurses. 5. Data Analysis 5.1 Identify and describe the data analysis? Was this appropriate? Why/why not? The data was transcribed from audiotape to script, coded and analyzed using Colaizzi’s method. Colaizzi’s method advocates seven steps for data analysis (Kelly & Ahem, 2009). The first step in the method requires the researcher to read all of the participants’ descriptions in order to obtain a feeling for them and to make sense out of them. The second step requires the researcher to return to each description and extract from them phrases that are directly related to the phenomenon being investigated. The third step is where the researcher tries to spell out the meaning of each significant statement. The fourth step is where the investigators repeats the above steps for each description and organizes the aggregate formulated meaning into clusters of themes. The clusters of themes are then referred to original protocols in order to validate them. This enables the researcher to note any discrepancies between various clusters. The fifth step is where the results of everything are integrated into an exhaustive description of the investigated topic. The sixth step is where the researcher makes an effort to formulate the exhaustive description of the phenomenon being investigated in a possible unequivocal statement of identification of its basic structure. The final step is the validating step that can be attained by returning to each subject and asking the subject about the findings. This data analysis method was appropriate because it allowed the researcher to uncover and produce a description of the lived experience of clinical neonatal nurses. 5.2 How did the researchers ensure Rigor? (i.e. credibility, auditability, trustworthiness, fittingness) Credibility is truth of the conclusions made on the findings. This is usually dependent on the judgments by the participants and any other persons related to the discipline. Credibility in this study was ensured by the principal researcher undertaking interviews and transcriptions himself. During data analysis, credibility was ensured through reading, re-listening and re-reading several times by the principal investigator to ensure prolonged engagement with the data. The meanings and themes extracted during data analysis were validated by two researchers who were familiar with the data analysis method. This further enhanced credibility of the conclusions made. Auditability is the accountability of the information relayed in the report (Hall, Kronborg, Aaqaard & Ammentorp, 2010). It is dependent on the availability of information guiding the reader through the report from formulation of the research question, collection of data and its analysis and the subsequent interpretation of the results. The researchers ensured auditability in their report by clearly outlining the research aim. The aim of the study acted as the guiding theme throughout the data collection and analysis. The conclusions made are also related to this research aim and thus the research was auditable. Trustworthiness is the truthfulness of the study findings. The researchers ensured that their findings were trustworthy by ensuring that the study aim was linked to the literature review, methodology and conclusions made (Hall, Kronborg, Aaqaard & Ammentorp, 2010). This was enhanced by making appropriate choices in sampling of participants, data collection and data analysis. Fittingness involves faithfulness of the subjects in relation to daily realities. The researchers’ ensured fittingness in their study by continuing with interviews until no new themes emerged from newly recruited participants. The fact that the themes that emerged from the nurses were related to each other implies that there was faithfulness in information relayed during interviews. 6. Ethics (Total: 8 marks) 6.1 What ethical considerations apply to this study and how are they relevant? In your answer address ethical principals such as consent, justice, beneficence, respect. (8 marks) Participants’ well being is very essential when carrying out a study involving human subjects. In qualitative research, three research ethics need to be observed, namely persons participating in the research need to be respected, minimization of risk to the participants and being just. Respecting participants ensures that participation is voluntary and autonomous. It also ensures that research subjects are handled with dignity (Hall, Kronborg, Aaqaard & Ammentorp, 2010). Thus, this ensures that persons are not misused in studies as study objects to realize the study objectives. This study observed this principle by allowing participants to voluntarily participate and those who accepted signed informed consent. Minimization of risk to the participants is vital for the credibility of the research. The risk minimization need to both social and psychological risk minimization (Taylor et al., 2011). It is upon the investigators to ensure that this takes place and if possible, the benefits of the participants should out way the risks of participating. In this research, no risks were involved. Being just ensures that risks and benefits resulting from the study are fairly distributed. This implies that any knowledge resulting from the research need to benefit the participants of the study. In this study, the information regarding experiences of clinical neonatal nurses is bound to benefit the clinical neonatal nurses at large. 7. Findings (Total: 8 marks) 7.1 What were the main findings of the study? The main finding of the study was that in the context of the current culture, clinical research remains burdensome on the nurse and that nurse led research is still not considered to be central concern in the role of clinical nurses in neonatal care. 7.2 Can the study findings be used in other settings? Why/why not? The study findings can be used in other settings because the themes that emerged from the nurses were similar even though each nurse was interviewed independently and the fact that the nurses were sampled from two different centers. 8. Summary Given that the study aim was linked to methodology and conclusions made, the study can be used to inform clinical practice. The fact that the study was credible, auditable, trustworthy and fitting implies that the study findings are worthy being used to help support nurses to engage in nursing lead research. Moreover, since appropriate sampling technique and data collection method in addition to appropriate data analysis method was utilized, the study findings are worthy being used to inform the clinical practice. References Bryanton, J., Gagnon, A., Johnston, C., & Hatem, M. (2008). Predictors of Women’s Perceptions of the Childbirth Experience. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 37(1), 24-34 Hall, E., Kronborg, H., Aaqaard, H., & Ammentorp, J. (2010). Walking the line between the possible and the ideal: Lived experiences of neonatal nurses. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 26(6), 307-313 Kelly, J., & Ahem, K. (2009). Preparing nurses for practice: A phenomenological study of the new graduate in Australia. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(6), 910-918 Maryann, B. (2011). Overcoming Challenges for Nurse-Led Research in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 25(2), 153-157 Simmons, D., & Sherwood, G. (2009). Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Emergency Department Nurses' Descriptions of Working Together: Building Team Relationships to Improve Safety. Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America, 22(2), 253-260 Taylor, C., Gribble, K., Sheehan, A., Schmied, V., & Dykes, F. (2011). Staff Perceptions and Experiences of Implementing the Baby Friendly Initiative in Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Australia. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 40(1), 25-34 Wendy, L., & Kathleen, A. (2009). Substantive Areas of Clinical Nurse Specialist Practice: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature. Clinical Nurse Specialist, 23(2), 73-90 Read More