N 108 Hesi Nursing Research

Correct Answer A: The authors should have reported the 9/11 events as a threat to the study's internal validity.

Explanation:

A threat to internal validity occurs when an external factor influences participants' responses in a way that may distort the study results. The 9/11 attacks, being a major traumatic national event, likely had a significant emotional and psychological impact on the participants, especially when evaluating attitudes about personal safety. This event could bias the findings, so it should be acknowledged as a limitation in the study's discussion.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. The study should have been postponed for six months to distance the subjects from the 9/11 events

While postponing may have reduced the emotional impact, it is not a requirement. Instead, the event should be disclosed as a possible confounding factor.

C. The study subjects should have been instructed to disregard feelings about 9/11 when completing surveys

It is not realistic or ethical to ask participants to disregard strong emotional reactions to a national tragedy; such feelings are likely to influence their honest responses.

D. The study should have been abandoned because the attacks of 9/11 compromised the study's reliability

The issue is more about internal validity (bias in findings) rather than reliability (consistency of measurement). Abandoning the study is unnecessary as long as limitations are acknowledged.

 Correct Answer D: Review research abstracts on preoperative teaching with a similar client population.

Explanation:

The most efficient and logical first step when conducting a literature review is to scan research abstracts. Abstracts provide concise summaries of published studies, including purpose, methods, population, and key findings. This allows the nurse to quickly assess the relevance of numerous studies before selecting which full-text articles are worth reading in detail. Reviewing abstracts related to preoperative teaching in similar client populations ensures that the nurse gathers existing evidence, avoids duplication, and builds on prior knowledge when designing the new study.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Ask orthopedic surgeons which topics should be covered preoperatively with clients.

While consulting experts can be helpful later in study design or to ensure clinical relevance, it does not directly identify previous research. This step is more about content development than literature review.

B. Read full-text articles in nursing journals about designing client teaching sessions.

Reading full-text articles is useful, but it is not efficient as a first step. Without screening abstracts first, the nurse risks spending time on articles that may not be directly relevant to the research question.

C. Interview clients to determine if they remembered concepts taught preoperatively.

This is a form of primary data collection, which should occur after reviewing existing research. Interviews help explore gaps or validate findings but are not appropriate as the first method for identifying existing evidence.

Correct Answer C: Evidence-based practice (EBP)

Explanation:

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the process that integrates current research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences to guide clinical decisions. It ensures nurses deliver the most effective and high-quality care, improving client outcomes by basing interventions on proven methods rather than tradition or routine.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN)

QSEN is an educational framework that prepares nurses with competencies related to safety and quality. It supports EBP but does not itself guide daily clinical decisions in practice.

B. The scope and standards of practice

These define what nurses are legally and professionally allowed to do but do not specifically guide decision-making about clinical interventions based on the best evidence.

D. The Nurse Practice Act (NPA)

The NPA defines the legal boundaries and responsibilities of nursing practice in each state but does not direct how nurses make clinical care decisions to enhance outcomes through research-based evidence.

Correct Answer A: Results

Explanation:

The Results section of a research report is where the findings of the study are presented, including statistical outcomes, comparisons, and data analyses. The statement discusses the measured outcome (no significant difference in scores) between two groups, which is a direct result of the study’s data analysis. Therefore, it belongs in the results section.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

B. Sample

The Sample section describes the characteristics of the participants (e.g., age, gender, inclusion criteria), not the outcomes or comparisons made.

C. Conclusions

The Conclusions section interprets the results and discusses implications, but the specific statistical findings should appear in the results first before they are discussed more broadly.

D. Methodology

The Methodology section details how the study was conducted—design, instruments, procedures, etc.—not the outcome of the intervention or comparison.

Correct Answers:

C. 5 to 10-year-olds who participate in sports

E. 10-year-olds who had stitches due to an accident

Explanation:

This study is focused on the effect of suture type (antibacterial vs. standard) on wound infection in a randomized sample of children aged 5 to 10 years. Therefore, eligible participants must:

Be within the specified age range (5 to 10 years)

Have a clinical need for sutures, so the intervention (type of suture) can be applied and measured

C. Children who play sports may be prone to minor injuries requiring sutures, making them suitable candidates.

E. Children who have already had stitches meet the inclusion criteria regarding age and relevant wound experience.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. First graders at a public school

While they may fall within the age range, they are not guaranteed to have surgical wounds or need sutures, so they do not meet the clinical requirement for the study.

B. 5 to 10-year-olds with leukemia

Children with leukemia are often immunocompromised, which could confound the study results due to their higher baseline infection risk. They may be excluded to avoid skewed data or ethical concerns.

D. 5 to 10-year-olds who are type 1 diabetics

Like children with leukemia, type 1 diabetes affects healing and infection risk, which could introduce bias. These participants would likely be excluded to maintain internal validity of the study.

Correct Answer C: Biased findings

Explanation:

Biased findings occur when a researcher's personal beliefs, expectations, or preferences influence the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, leading to distorted or inaccurate results. In this case, the nurse-researcher intentionally recalculates the data to align the outcome with their own belief system, which compromises the integrity of the research. This practice introduces bias and undermines the objectivity and validity of the study.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Secondary analysis

Secondary analysis involves using existing data collected for another study or purpose to conduct a new analysis. It is a legitimate and ethical research method when done transparently, but it is not applicable here since the researcher is manipulating original results, not analyzing new data.

B. Non-parametric data analysis

Non-parametric analysis refers to statistical techniques used when data don’t meet the assumptions required for parametric tests, such as normal distribution. It is a valid statistical method, not related to altering data based on personal beliefs.

D. Theoretical differentiation

Theoretical differentiation involves clarifying and separating conceptual frameworks or theoretical constructs in a study. It has nothing to do with manipulating data or introducing bias into statistical computations.

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 B: Which instrument was used to measure subjects' potential for delirium

Explanation:

For a nurse working on a memory impairment unit, the most critical information is knowing which assessment tool or instrument was used to measure the potential for delirium. This is essential to determine if the tool is reliable, valid, and appropriate for use in their own patient population. It directly affects the clinical relevance and potential application of the findings in practice.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. The credentials of the nurses who conducted and published the study

Knowing the credentials may help assess the study's credibility, but it does not provide actionable information that can guide patient care. It is less important than knowing the actual tool used for assessment.

C. The type of research methodology that was used to conduct the study

While the methodology is important for evaluating study rigor, it does not have as immediate a clinical impact as understanding the assessment instrument used for identifying delirium risk.

D. What was the range of age for the subjects who participated in the study

Although age can influence the generalizability of findings, the study already specifies it involved older adult residents. Knowing the specific age range is helpful but not as directly impactful as knowing the instrument used for identifying delirium risk in practice.

 Correct Answer B: Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) reference.

Explanation:

CINAHL is a comprehensive and specialized nursing and allied health database that indexes scholarly, peer-reviewed articles, including those authored by nurses. It is specifically designed to retrieve information on nursing practices, interventions, and outcomes. For a topic like nurse-authored client education programs aimed at reducing STIs, CINAHL is the most reliable and focused source, offering a high volume of relevant, evidence-based studies that are searchable using key terms like “sexually transmitted infections,” “teenagers,” and “nurse-led education.”

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect:

A. Google Internet meta-search engine search by subject matter (STIs)

Google results are broad, unfiltered, and often include non-scholarly or commercially biased information. While it may provide general awareness, it is not a reliable source for scholarly nursing research or nurse-authored interventions.

C. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Website for the public

This website offers public health education, but it is not focused on nursing research or nurse-authored client education programs. Its target audience is patients and providers in obstetrics and gynecology, not researchers or nursing students.

D. US Department of Health and Human Services epidemiology webpage

While this source may offer statistical data about STI rates, it does not focus on nursing interventions or education programs. It is useful for background or prevalence data but does not meet the specific requirement for nurse-authored education program information.