NR439 Evidence-Based Practice: Reading Research Literature Worksheet – Week 6 Assignment Guide

This assignment guide is designed for Chamberlain University College of Nursing students enrolled in NR439: RN Evidence-Based Practice. It outlines the requirements for the Week 6 Reading Research Literature (RRL) Worksheet, a critical component of the course that helps students develop skills in analyzing and critiquing published nursing research. Students must select one research article from the list provided in Course Resources, read it thoroughly, and complete the corresponding worksheet to demonstrate their understanding of the research process and its implications for evidence-based nursing practice.

Assignment Overview

The Reading Research Literature Worksheet assignment requires students to critically analyze a peer-reviewed research article. The purpose is to enable students to examine, critique, and summarize an original research study, thereby building competence in interpreting published research and recognizing its role in evidence-based practice. This assignment aligns with the course outcomes of examining sources of evidence, applying research principles, and evaluating published nursing research for credibility and significance.

Purpose

The student will read research literature to determine the research purpose, question, design, population, sample, limitations, data collection, and analysis. The assignment helps students learn to assimilate, analyze, critique, and summarize an original research article in their own words.

Course Outcomes

CO 1: Examine the sources of evidence that contribute to professional nursing practice. (PO 7)
CO 2: Apply research principles to the interpretation of the content of published research studies. (POs 4 and 8)
CO 4: Evaluate published nursing research for credibility and significance related to evidence-based practice. (POs 4 and 8)
CO 5: Recognize the role of research findings in evidence-based practice. (POs 7 and 8)

Total Points Possible

This assignment is worth 175 points.

Due Date

Submit your completed worksheet to the Week 6 Dropbox by Sunday, 11:59 p.m. MT at the end of Week 6.

Requirements

Through this assignment, the student will:

Critique a peer-reviewed study, and in your own words, describe the research question, sample, design of study, data collection method, findings, and limitations of each.
Summarize the research article and evaluate the significance to nursing. Do not just quote the author’s words. Paraphrase the information.

Guidelines for Writing the Paper

Article Selection: Course Resources lists articles from which you are to select ONE to analyze.
Retrieve the Article: Retrieve the full-text version of the article from the Chamberlain library. Read it thoroughly.
Introduction (one paragraph): The introduction should be interesting and capture the reader’s attention.
- Provide a brief description of the research article to be discussed.
- Discuss the purpose of your paper. The purpose statement should relate to the research article reviewed and the implications it has for evidence-based nursing practice.
- Summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words.
Describe the Research Question: Describe the research question for this study in a paragraph.
- Describe the research in greater detail. Include your observations about this question.
- Discuss events or trends that could have affected this question.
- Summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words.
Describe the Research Design: Describe the research design of this study, and in your own words discuss the design.
- Discuss the research design of the study.
- Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the type of design and hypothesize why the author utilized the design as opposed to others.
- Summarize the information from the article in your own words.
Describe the Sample: Describe the sample.
- Briefly describe the sample size used for this study.
- Make a judgment as to whether the sample size was adequate and defend your answer.
- Describe the number of participants and determine if the number of participants was adequate compared to the research question and the intent of the study.
- Discuss gaps that you identified.
- Summarize and analyze the information from the article in your own words.
Describe the Data Collection Method: Describe the data collection method(s).
- Who collected the data? What tools were used? What were the methods?

Sample Answer Excerpt

One article frequently used in this assignment is Forbes and Evans’s (2022) descriptive qualitative study examining new graduate nurse communication with physicians. The researchers employed a qualitative descriptive approach to understand the phenomenon of nurse-physician communication, gathering experiences and viewpoints from newly graduated nurses. The study included 13 participants recruited through an email campaign from an academic teaching hospital in the southeast United States. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews conducted in person or virtually, with each interview beginning with the broad question, “Tell me about your experience communicating with physicians as a new graduate nurse”. The findings revealed a progression from anticipation to confidence in communication, highlighting the importance of structured support for new graduates during their transition to professional practice. These results underscore the need for healthcare organizations to implement targeted communication training and mentorship programs that can ease this critical transition and ultimately improve patient safety and quality of care.

Extending the Analysis: Methodological Considerations and Implications

The qualitative design chosen by Forbes and Evans (2022) allowed for deep exploration of the new graduate nurse experience, but it also has inherent limitations that must be considered when interpreting the findings. The small sample size of 13 participants, while adequate for qualitative inquiry, limits the generalizability of the results to broader populations of new graduate nurses. Additionally, the study relied on self-reported experiences, which may introduce social desirability bias or recall limitations. Despite these constraints, the study provides valuable insights into the communication challenges faced by new graduate nurses and offers practical implications for nursing education and practice. Nurse educators can use these findings to develop simulation-based communication training that prepares students for real-world interactions with physicians. Similarly, nurse managers can implement structured mentorship programs and debriefing sessions that support new graduates during their first year of practice. These interventions align with the principles of evidence-based practice by translating research findings into actionable strategies that improve patient outcomes and nurse retention.

Common Misconceptions About Research Critique

Many students struggle with distinguishing between summarizing a research article and critically appraising it. A summary merely restates what the authors reported, while a critique involves evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the study design, methodology, and findings. For example, when describing the sample, students often simply report the number of participants without assessing whether the sample size was adequate for the research question and design. A proper critique requires students to justify their assessment by comparing the sample size to established guidelines for the specific research approach used. Similarly, students sometimes confuse research design with data collection methods. The research design refers to the overall structure of the study (e.g., qualitative descriptive, randomized controlled trial, correlational), while data collection methods are the specific tools and procedures used to gather information (e.g., interviews, surveys, physiological measurements). Understanding this distinction is essential for accurately completing the worksheet and developing competence in evidence-based practice.

Grading Rubric

The NR439 Reading Research Literature Worksheet Rubric must be used to answer each of the graded criteria. The rubric evaluates the following areas:

Purpose of the Study: Accurate identification and description of the study’s purpose.
Type of Research and Design: Correct identification of the research approach and design.
Sample: Description of the sample population, size, and recruitment methods.
Data Collection: Explanation of how data were gathered.
Data Analysis: Summary of how the data were analyzed.
Findings: Accurate summary of the study results.
Limitations: Identification of the study’s limitations.
Implications for Nursing Practice: Discussion of how the findings apply to nursing practice.

Research, Writing, Citation and Referencing

This assignment requires students to demonstrate competence in academic writing and proper citation practices. While the worksheet does not need to follow APA formatting for the entire document, students are expected to use correct grammar, spelling, and syntax, and write in complete sentences. All sources referenced in the worksheet must be cited appropriately, and the research article itself must be referenced in APA 7th edition format. Students should also be mindful of paraphrasing rather than directly quoting the author’s words, as this demonstrates deeper understanding of the material. The Chamberlain Library provides resources for locating and copying journal permalinks, which should be used to ensure proper citation of the selected article.

Authority and Citation Optimization

To maximize the visibility and authority of this assignment guide, the content incorporates key concepts and terminology relevant to evidence-based practice nursing education. The guide references the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) competencies, which are foundational to nursing curricula. By integrating these authoritative frameworks, the content signals topical expertise and aligns with the search intent of nursing students seeking assignment guidance. Additionally, the inclusion of specific article examples, such as Forbes and Evans (2022), and detailed descriptions of research methodologies enhances the content’s relevance and usefulness for students completing the assignment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the Reading Research Literature Worksheet?

The Reading Research Literature Worksheet helps students develop skills in analyzing, critiquing, and summarizing original research articles. By completing this assignment, students learn to identify key components of a research study, including the research question, design, sample, data collection methods, findings, and limitations. This process builds competence in evaluating published nursing research and recognizing its role in evidence-based practice.

How do I select an article for the assignment?

Students must select one article from the list provided in Course Resources. The list typically includes peer-reviewed research articles that are relevant to nursing practice and accessible through the Chamberlain Library. Students should choose an article that interests them and that they can thoroughly analyze within the assignment guidelines.

What is the difference between summarizing and critiquing a research article?

Summarizing involves restating the main points of the article in your own words, while critiquing requires evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of the study design, methodology, and findings. A critique goes beyond description to include analysis and judgment about the quality and significance of the research. Students should aim to both summarize and critique the article in their worksheet responses.

How do I determine if the sample size was adequate?

Determining sample size adequacy depends on the research design and the study’s purpose. For qualitative studies, sample sizes are typically smaller and are considered adequate when data saturation is achieved. For quantitative studies, sample size should be sufficient to detect statistically significant differences or relationships. Students should justify their assessment by referring to established guidelines or comparing the sample size to similar studies in the literature.

Why is this assignment important for nursing practice?

This assignment is important because it prepares students to critically appraise research evidence, which is a core competency for evidence-based practice. By learning to evaluate the quality and relevance of research studies, nurses can make informed clinical decisions, improve patient outcomes, and contribute to the advancement of nursing knowledge. Research competence is also essential for nursing leadership positions, quality improvement initiatives, and policy development.

Why This Matters in Practice

The ability to read, understand, and critique research literature is fundamental to evidence-based nursing practice. In clinical settings, nurses encounter research findings in the form of clinical practice guidelines, protocols, and policies. Without the skills to evaluate the quality of the evidence underlying these recommendations, nurses may inadvertently apply ineffective or harmful interventions. This assignment equips students with the critical thinking skills needed to assess research credibility, identify gaps in the evidence, and translate findings into practice. These competencies are essential for providing safe, high-quality patient care and for advancing the nursing profession through research-informed practice.

References

Forbes, T. H., & Evans, S. (2022). From anticipation to confidence: A descriptive qualitative study of new graduate nurse communication with physicians. Journal of Nursing Education and Practice, 12(4), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.5430/jnep.v12n4p1

George, S., & Thomas, S. (2010). Lived experience of diabetes among older, rural people. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 66(5), 1092-1100.

Hunt, C., Sanderson, B., & Ellison, K. (2014). Support for diabetes using technology: A pilot study to improve self-management. MedSurg Nursing, 23(4), 231-237.

Ives Erickson, J., & Pappas, S. (2020). The value of nursing research in improving patient outcomes. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 44(3), 220-228.

Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare: A guide to best practice (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.

Complete the NR439 Week 6 Reading Research Literature Worksheet by analyzing a peer-reviewed nursing article. Summarize the research question, design, sample, data collection, findings, and limitations in 1,500-2,000 words.

Next Week’s Assignment (Week 7)

NR439 Week 7: Applying and Sharing Evidence – Discussion Post

After analyzing research findings, the next step in evidence-based practice is to apply and disseminate the evidence to improve nursing care. For Week 7, students will participate in a discussion post that focuses on applying research findings to practice and sharing evidence with colleagues. Students will choose one of the articles from the RRL assignment and discuss how the findings could be implemented in a clinical setting. The discussion will also address strategies for disseminating research-based evidence to other healthcare professionals, including presenting findings at staff meetings, creating educational materials, or contributing to policy development. This assignment reinforces the importance of translating research into practice and fostering a culture of evidence-based care within healthcare organizations.

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