N 108 Hesi Nursing Research

Correct Answer D: All RNs who were hired by the hospital within 6 months of graduation from nursing school.

Explanation:

The population of interest refers to the broader group of individuals to whom the researchers intend to generalize their study results. In this case, the study is focused on newly graduated nurses employed by the hospital who completed orientation within 6 months of graduating from nursing school. This means the population of interest consists of all registered nurses hired by the hospital during that window of time after graduation, not just those who agreed to participate or were present when the study began.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. All RNs in the city where the hospital was located who graduated within the past 6 months

This group is too broad. The study is not targeting all new RNs in the city—it is only interested in those employed by that specific hospital.

B. RN employees at the study hospital who were hired, completed orientation, and later agreed to participate in the study

This describes the sample, not the population of interest. The sample is the subset of the population who actually participated in the study.

C. RN employees who were hired 0 to 6 months after graduating and were still employed at the hospital when the study began

This is too specific and includes a time qualifier that narrows the scope to just those employed when the study started. The population includes all who were hired within 6 months of graduation, regardless of whether they were still employed at the time of the study.

Correct Answer A: To the extent that it is possible, informed consent is obtained from mentally disabled adult subjects in addition to a consent from their guardians.

Explanation:

Vulnerable populations, such as mentally disabled adults, require extra safeguards to protect their autonomy and rights in research. The correct answer reflects a heightened sensitivity because the researcher makes an effort to obtain assent (affirmative agreement) from the mentally disabled participants themselves, whenever possible, in addition to obtaining legally authorized consent from their guardians. This dual approach respects the dignity of the individual and complies with ethical standards.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. The researcher has petitioned the Institutional Review Board for an exempted review due to negligible risks posed to the adult subjects.

Requesting an exempted review does not demonstrate sensitivity to vulnerable subjects, especially if the study involves individuals who are mentally disabled, prisoners, or otherwise at risk. Vulnerable populations typically require full review, not exemption.

C. The wife of a subject who is visually impaired will receive and sign the written informed consent document because her spouse cannot see it.

This violates ethical standards. The subject—not a proxy—must give informed consent unless legally unable. For visually impaired individuals, the consent process must be adapted (e.g., using verbal explanations, Braille, or witnessed consent), not handed off to someone else to sign.

D. Prisoners selected as subjects are asked to sign two separate informed consent documents to show that their participation was voluntary.

Requiring two consents is not a standard or recognized practice. Voluntary participation is ensured through appropriate education, assurance of no coercion, and independent review, not through redundant paperwork.

Correct Answer A:  A randomized controlled trial that concluded individual and group education achieves similar results.

Explanation:

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is considered the gold standard for evaluating the effectiveness of interventions in evidence-based practice. It uses randomization and control groups to reduce bias and establish cause-and-effect relationships. Since the nurse is seeking to determine which method is more effective, the RCT offers the most reliable evidence by directly comparing outcomes between the two teaching methods under controlled conditions.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. A cost analysis study that determined group education was less costly than individual education

This focuses on the cost-effectiveness, not the educational effectiveness. While useful for budgeting decisions, it does not provide evidence of which method better improves client outcomes.

C. A qualitative study that interviewed subjects and found that they preferred individual education

Qualitative research is valuable for understanding client preferences and experiences, but it does not measure the effectiveness of the teaching methods in terms of health outcomes or learning.

D. A descriptive study that found a positive link between individual teaching and blood glucose levels

Descriptive studies can show associations but not causation. They lack the rigor of randomized designs and are more prone to bias or confounding factors.

Correct Answer D: The subject's history during the three months of the study

Explanation:

The history threat to internal validity refers to external events or experiences that occur during the course of the study which may influence the outcomes. In this case, over the three-month period, subjects might have received additional education, encountered complications, or had personal experiences affecting their insulin knowledge—independent of the teaching strategies being tested. These events can confound the results, making it unclear whether changes in test scores are due to the intervention or other experiences.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. The possibility that the results cannot be replicated

This relates to external validity (generalizability and reproducibility), not internal validity.

B. How long the subjects had been diagnosed with diabetes

The study specifies that clients were recently diagnosed, suggesting this variable was controlled. If not, it would be a selection threat but not the main threat described here.

C. The sampling method used to select subjects for the groups

Random assignment was used, which minimizes selection bias and strengthens internal validity. Therefore, this is not the primary concern.

Correct Answer C: Cross-sectional

Explanation:

A cross-sectional study design involves collecting data from a population at a single point in time to examine the prevalence or characteristics of a condition. In this case, the study measured blood pressure in students one time only at the end of the school year, which fits the definition of a cross-sectional approach. It provides a snapshot of the population’s health status at a specific moment.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Prospective

A prospective study follows subjects over time and collects data in the future. This study does not follow students over time; it captures data at a single moment.

B. Quasi-experimental

A quasi-experimental design involves manipulation of variables and often a comparison group, but lacks randomization. This study involved no intervention or manipulation, so it cannot be classified as quasi-experimental.

D. Comparative

A comparative study requires at least two groups to be compared. This scenario involves only one group of students, with no mention of a comparison group, so it is not comparative.

Correct Answer D: How does group education compare to individual education in decreasing the HbA1C in adolescents recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus?

Explanation:

This question is best structured for a PICO-based search (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). It clearly defines the population (adolescents with newly diagnosed type 2 DM), the intervention (group education), the comparison (individual education), and the outcome (change in HbA1C). This makes it the most effective question for locating evidence-based studies that measure the effectiveness of different educational methods.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Do clients with type 2 diabetes mellitus prefer individual education or group education to help them manage their HgbA1C?

This question focuses on preference, not effectiveness. It seeks subjective opinion rather than measurable outcomes like HbA1C reduction.

B. Should the nurse educator use individual education or group education to teach adolescents recently diagnosed with type 2 DM?

This is a broad decision-based question that lacks the specificity needed to drive a targeted literature search about effectiveness.

C. Among adolescents who were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, is individual education effective in improving HbA1C?

This only focuses on individual education and lacks a comparison to group education, making it less useful for comparing effectiveness between methods.

Correct Answer D: Compare the location where the study was conducted with the location of the pediatric clinic

Explanation:

The most important first step is to assess the generalizability of the study findings by comparing the geographical, cultural, socioeconomic, and demographic characteristics of the study population with those of the local clinic. Differences in environmental factors, healthcare access, or cultural practices may affect the nutritional status of Hispanic children differently in the northeast compared to the southwest. Without this context, applying the study findings directly could be inappropriate or ineffective.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Replicate the study using white children from the pediatric clinic as subjects

This is inappropriate because the original study focused specifically on Hispanic children. Changing the ethnic group would not provide a valid replication and may introduce confounding variables that invalidate comparisons.

B. Propose initiating a policy of administering vitamin A twice annually to children ages 6 to 20 months

It is premature to propose a clinic-wide policy change without first confirming whether the findings are applicable to the nurse’s current population and setting. This action would require further evaluation and possibly additional research.

C. Determine how the nurse researcher measured the subjects' nutritional status

While this is a relevant question when assessing a study’s validity, it is not the most important initial action. Generalizability of the findings to the local context takes precedence before examining measurement tools.

Correct Answer D: How does rocking-chair motion compare to standard care in treatment of adults with a postoperative ileus?

Explanation:

This question is structured in a way that directly supports an evidence-based literature search using the PICO format (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome). It compares rocking-chair motion (intervention) to standard care (comparison) in treating postoperative ileus (condition) in adults (population), aiming to evaluate its effectiveness. This makes it the best choice for finding relevant research studies on the intervention’s outcomes.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. How do postoperative clients who have had abdominal surgery perceive rocking-chair motion after surgery?

This is a qualitative question focused on patient perceptions, not effectiveness. It wouldn't yield studies measuring clinical outcomes of rocking-chair use.

B. What are the most commonly used methods to decrease postoperative ileus in adults who have had abdominal surgery?

This is a broad descriptive question that looks at multiple interventions, not specifically at rocking-chair motion or its effectiveness compared to other methods.

C. Should rocking-chair motion be included in the care of clients who have a postoperative ileus following abdominal surgery?

This is a clinical decision-making question, but it lacks specificity for conducting a precise literature search, especially when compared to the structure and clarity of option D

Correct Answer D: Experimental

Explanation:

An experimental research design is the best method for determining the effects of an intervention, such as a teaching program. It typically includes random assignment, control and experimental groups, and pre- and post-intervention measurements. This allows the researcher to attribute any changes (e.g., improved blood sugar control) to the teaching provided.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Cross-sectional

This design captures data at one point in time and is useful for describing conditions or associations, but not for establishing cause-and-effect from an intervention.

B. Descriptive

Descriptive studies summarize characteristics of a population without manipulating variables or testing effects, so they cannot determine the outcome of an intervention.

C. Longitudinal

Although longitudinal studies follow participants over time, they do not always include an intervention. Unless it’s a longitudinal experimental study, it doesn’t provide strong evidence of effect like an experimental design does.