NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS– Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

The introduction for the Walden University NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

After the introduction, move into the main part of the NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Sample Answer for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Stress adversely influences the health and well-being of those who fail to mitigate its effects adequately. Turner et al. (2020) concluded that stress levels predict disease prognosis and overall health. The benefits of exercise have been studied for many years. Exercise as a prevention method for health disorders (not limited to metabolic disorders, cancers, and mood disorders) and not just as a healthy way of living has been identified in many research studies (Wang & Ashokan, 2021). Therefore, this discussion post aims to investigate the potential relationship between the stress level of college students and their commitment to a routine exercise program. The research question to guide this inquiry is: Is there a significant relationship between college student’s stress levels and the frequency of routine exercise?

A null hypothesis, alternate hypothesis, and variables will be identified to formulate this study properly. The null hypothesis is that there is no significant relationship between college students’ stress levels and the frequency of routine exercise. Therefore, the alternative hypothesis is that there is a significant relationship between college students’ stress levels and the frequency of routine exercise. The variables identified are the stress level of college students (dependent variable) and routine exercise frequency (independent variable). 

The expected prediction between the variables presented is that a negative correlation will exist. In other words, their levels will change in opposite directions. In this correlation study, it is predicted that as routine exercise increases, the stress levels of college students will decrease. This prediction was chosen based on existing research that demonstrates the impact of physical activity on improving physical and mental well-being, including hormonal responses and the production of feel-good neurotransmitters (Bramwell et al., 2023).

Various factors could affect the outcome of this correlation study. First, the type of exercise, such as weight training versus cardio, may impact the degree of stress relief provided and whether the exercise occurs indoors or outdoors (Bramwell et al., 2023). The intensity and duration of the exercise program can additionally impact the results. Examples would be short bursts of high intensity versus longer durations of low intensity. As many research studies can verify, variations of individuality exist. Some individuals’ bodies may respond to exercise more than others due to anatomical or physiological (known or unknown) conditions. Additionally, some individuals find solace in working out alone, while others enjoy the socialization of team sports. Finally, additional stressors placed on an individual to exercise might alter the scale of results. These factors could include time, finances, or relationships.

As college students, promoting and maintaining our health is of utmost importance. Exploring potential relationships and considering potential factors that can contribute to or hinder holistic well-being is of utmost importance as we continue our path to academic achievement.

References

Bramwell, R. C., Streetman, A. E., & Besenyi, G. M. (2023). The effect of outdoor and indoor group exercise classes on psychological stress in college students: A pilot study with randomization. International Journal of Exercise Science, 16(5), 1012–1024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10464750/#:~:text=Exercise%20also%20improves%20other%20mental,on%20college%20students’%20mental%20healthLinks to an external site..

Turner, A. I., Smyth, N., Hall, S. J., Torres, S. J., Hussein, M., Jayasinghe, J. U., Ball, K., Clow, A. J. (2020). Psychological stress reactivity and future health and disease outcomes: A systematic review of prospective evidence. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2020.104599Links to an external site.

Wang, Y. & Ashokan, K. (2021). Physical exercise: An overview of benefits from psychological level to genetics and beyond. Frontiers in Physiology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.73185Links to an external site.

Sample Answer 2 for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Description of the Healthcare Problem

Medication mistakes and nurse staffing are the healthcare issues I choose to explore in my correlation analysis. In the US, medication errors are still a major source of stress for the healthcare system. It is among the main reasons why people die that may be avoided. Finding the root causes of medical errors and putting strong remedies in place to address them have proven difficult. To enhance patient safety and quality care, medication mistakes have been recognized as a quality improvement gap that has to be filled (Gray & Grove, 2020). Healthcare professionals are said to be in violation of the five rights of drug prescription: proper patient, medication, time, dosage, and route. To guarantee a safe medication procedure, advance practice nurses should incorporate the five rights into drug prescriptions. They must guarantee that the prescription contains the appropriate action, form, paperwork, and reaction. A persistent issue for many healthcare organizations is a lack of staff. An increase in medical mishaps has been linked to a scarcity of nurses. Keeping a very healthy environment that honors the values of nurses is one of the measures for addressing medication errors. Medical errors are seen as areas for quality improvement in a very healthy work environment, and they need to be addressed. Medical errors are important basic indications of high-quality care that healthcare organizations should consider. Healthcare professionals make mistakes when trying to treat the large number of patients. Burnout makes a nurse more likely to make mistakes in both commission and omission. Adequate staffing is advised to prevent such mistakes and make sure that practice obligations do not overwhelm nurses and cause fatigue. “What effect does increasing nurse staffing have on medication errors reported?” is my study question.

Null Hypothesis and Alternative Hypothesis

The two types of hypotheses used in research are null hypothesis and alternative hypothesis. The null hypothesis is a general mathematical statement that implies that there is no correlation between the two variables being compared. On the other hand, the alternative hypothesis states that there is a difference between the two variables being compared (Travers etal., 2017). After conducting research the researcher can test, verify or reject the null hypothesis being investigated. The principle of both null and alternative hypotheses is collecting data and evaluating the probability of the collected data proving a null or alternative hypothesis is true or false (Travers et al., 2017). In formulating the two hypotheses of my research on staffing and medication errors I will document the following hypotheses.

The Research Problem: “What effect does increasing nurse staffing have on medication errors reported?

Null hypothesis H1: The number of medication errors reported in healthcare organizations does not decrease with an increase in the number of nurses on staff.

Alternative hypothesis H2: Medication errors recorded in healthcare organizations are decreased when there is an increase in the number of nurses on staff.

Relationship Between  Medication Errors and Nurse Staffing.

My Expected Relationship on Nurse Staffing and Medication Errors

In my opinion as an advanced practice nurse, there should be a direct link between medical errors and nurse staffing. More hours are spent interacting with patients than any other healthcare worker, with nurses serving as primary care providers. Reasons doctors are important decision makers in therapy even though they may only see patients for 30 to 60 minutes a day.Their capacity to view patients’ symptoms and medical state is so limited. Nurses play a variety of functions, such as keeping an eye on patients’ symptoms, identifying medication errors, providing patient care, and carrying out additional tasks to guarantee better patient outcomes (Driscoll et al., 2018). Nurses are constantly by their patients’ bedsides, arranging their care and keeping in touch with the patients, their families, and the doctors. It stands to reason that more nurses will be able to deliver safe care that is marked by fewer prescription errors. There wouldn’t be many nurses who couldn’t comfortably service an expanding number of nurses. They’ll be under pressure, suffer from severe burnout, and have an excessive workload. Regarding the two hypotheses, I anticipate that the null hypothesis—that is, the idea that “increasing nurse staffing does not reduce the number of medication errors reported in healthcare organizations”—will be disproved. I anticipate that the data’s p-value will be below the test’s significant level. As a result, the null hypothesis will be rejected by the researcher, suggesting that the research findings are meaningful. When the null hypothesis is rejected, the alternative theory is accepted. By hiring more nurse practitioners, the healthcare facility can ensure that each patient will have enough time spent with a nurse practitioner. They’ll be able to spot patients who could make medication mistakes and take action to prevent them before they have a chance to affect them. Increasing the staffing ratio will also have an effect on the amount of contact hours, which is a contributing factor to medical errors and nursing burnout (Rachel & Francesco, 2018). The nurse will have enough time to calm down before starting their shifts again when there are more providers on duty.

My Expected Relationship on Nurse Staffing and Medication Errors

The number of nurses on staff is just one aspect that influences patient safety and high-quality care. Patient outcomes may be impacted by other factors. One element that may have an impact on the standard of care is nursing expertise. The quality of care is closely tied to the nursing training and abilities that nurses possess. Low mortality and medical error rates have been linked to well-educated healthcare professionals (Rachel & Francesco, 2018). The quality of treatment provided can also be influenced by the educational backgrounds of nurses. The conditions in which nurses work are another influence. A very well-being work atmosphere has been linked to an improvement in the quality of care, whereas unfavorable working circumstances have been linked to higher workloads, nurse burnout, and subpar patient outcomes. More evidence-based study is required by nursing researchers to ascertain the relationship between medical errors and sufficient staffing.

References

Driscoll, A., Grant, M. J., Carroll, D., Dalton, S., Deaton, C., Jones, I., … & Astin, F. (2018). The

effect of nurse-to-patient ratios on nurse-sensitive patient outcomes in acute specialist

units: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing,17(1), 6-22.

Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020).Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.

Rachel, H., & Francesco, S. (2018). Factors associated with and impact of burnout in nursing and

residential home care workers for the elderly. Acta Bio Medica: Atenei Parmensis,89(Suppl 7), 60.

Randolph, C. (2020). Remember the null hypothesis? Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry,91(6), 571-571.

Travers, J. C., Cook, B. G., & Cook, L. (2017). Null hypothesis significance testing and p-values.Learning Disabilities Research & Practice,32 (4), 208-215

Sample Answer 3 for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Problem statement: Is there a positive nursing outcome when implementing an educational bridge program for ICU transition?

Independent variable– educational bridge program

Dependent variable– positive outcomes

Null hypothesis- There are no changes in nursing outcome when implementing an educational program for bridging into ICU transition because most nurses are not receptive to change.

Alternative hypothesis- There is a positive nursing outcome when implementing educational bridge program for ICU transition as a result of quality patient care.

Change is inevitable as many would like to say and just like being a nurse, changes occur every day and new research is being done to create evidenced based practices that would encourage quality patient care. Being a nurse for about 6 years now, I have encountered many changes through policies that needed to occur to assist in quality patient care. Also, working on Guam with an expanding multicultural population and within a government hospital, it is advisable that we follow and implement updated healthcare policies. One of the main new practice problems that we are currently encountering is the idea that nurses who wish to transfer to the intensive care unit is not receiving the proper education and transitional bridge into the ICU setting.

The critical care unit is a specialty unit that requires advanced skills and educational training and essentials of critical care orientation in order to attain acute care assessment skills. Due to an increase in the heavy and acutely ill patient population our ICU is trying to implement is starting up an educational bridge program for nurses who wish to transition into the ICU setting. However, just like change is bound to happen, not many nurses are receptive to receiving changes afraid of punitive actions towards mistakes, and may be afraid to reach out to other management about competency. In order to prioritize patient safety, the complexity of patients’ condition and treatment process in the intensive care unit predisposes patients to more hazardous events. Therefore, correlation studies should be done to determine if there are positive outcomes when implementing an educational bridge to transition into the ICU setting.

Correlation research can be defined as research design that investigates relationships between variables without the researchers controlling or manipulating them (Bhandari, 2021). In a randomized control study done by Amiri, Khademian, & Nikandish (2018), with a randomized experimental and control groups consisting of distribution of pamphlets about culture of safety and hospital surveys with a pre- and post- test; empowering nurses and supervisors through educational programs on patient safety could improve patient care outcomes. The epidemiology of errors included medication doses, prescription, and transcription, poor communication lack of knowledge and inadequate training are the main causes of nursing errors in the ICU. As a result, high morbidity and mortality associated with medication errors indicate the importance of promoting safety through educational bridging to transition in the ICU. Significant improvements were observed in promoting organizational learning, continuous improvements, and promoting patient safety as a result of post-test from the control group that received the educational bridge of transition into the ICU with a positive correlative dimension (72.3% positive responses).

In the end, it all comes down to knowing the foundation of nursing and from there build clinical performance that is suitable for the ICU setting. In article done by Shogi et.al. (2019), the gap between educational and clinical practice continues to be a challenge for educational experts therefore, this qualitative interview analysis study was conducted among nurses and administrators there is a need to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The theory and practice gap has been a consistent nursing problem encountered by both new graduates and experienced nurses. Incompatibility of theoretical education with the performance of nurses in the clinical setting can lead to inappropriate use of scientific resource coupled with adherence to conventional traditional methods in the healthcare setting resulting in ineffective nursing practice. Evidence based practices are coupled with quality patient care therefore, the link between knowledge and practice is vital for supporting clinical decision making and development in the nursing profession. This theory gap not only reduces motivation but also lead to a decrease in quality patient care. Mentorship and preceptorship would aid in bridging this gap to work efficiently and meet the ever changing healthcare needs.

Our ICU management is now re-introducing current theories in practice patients and validate scientific evidence with the inclusion of other fundamental measures such as cultivating positive attitudes, re-orienting nursing studies, and education. Effective education is key to implantation of quality care. Nurses serve as the bridge to management in promoting educational clinical guidelines based on their local facilities to share expectations.

Reference(s):

Amir, M., Khademian, Z., & Kikandish, R. (2018). The effect of nurse empowerment

educational program on patient safety culture: A randomized control trial. BMC Medical Education. 18(158). Retrieved from https://bmcmededuc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12909-018-1255-6

Bhandari, R. (2021). An introduction to correlational research. Scribbr Statistics. Retrieved from

https://www.scribbr.com/methodology/correlational-research/

Shogi, M., Sajadi, M., Oskiue, F., Dehnad, A., & Borimnejad, L. (2019). Strategies for bridging

the theory-practice gap from the perspective of nursing expert. Science Direct. 5(9). Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844019361638

Sample Answer 4 for NURS 8201 WEEK 6 DISCUSSION: CORRELATIONS

Post a brief description of the selected problem that you identified for the focus of this Discussion and include your research question. Be specific. 

The problem that I have selected for the focus of this discussion is nurse communication and patient adherence. Effective nurse-patient communication plays a crucial role and adherence to treatment plans and is essential for providing patient-centered care. Patient-centered care involves respecting and responding to individual patients’ needs, preferences, and values in clinical decisions (Edgman-Levitan & Schoenbaum, 2021). Respectful communication between nurses and patients can lead to better patient understanding, trust, satisfaction, and improved adherence to medication and treatment plans. Clear communication reduces uncertainty and allows patients to make informed decisions about their health. Additionally, effective communication enhances social support and safety which contributes to positive patient outcomes. My research question is, “Does effective nurse-patient communication correlate with patient adherence to treatment plans?”  

Explain your null hypothesis and alternate hypotheses for your research question and identify the dependent and independent variables that you would recommend to best support the research study.  

My null hypothesis states that there is no effect or no correlation between effective nurse-patient communication and patient adherence to treatment plans. My alternate hypothesis is that there is a correlation between effective nurse-patient communication and patient adherence to treatment plans.  

I would recommend the dependent variable to be patient adherence to treatment plans. Measurement of adherence can include factors such as medication adherence and treatment plan adherence. Medication adherence can be measured by whether patients followed prescribed medication regimens consistently. Treatment plan adherence can be measured by measuring whether patients adhere to lifestyle changes, follow-up appointments, and other aspects of their treatment plan.  

I would recommend the independent variable to be effective nurse-patient communication. The components of effective communication can include clear information delivery, active listening, empathy and respect, and patient engagement (Kwame & Petruka, 2021).  

Then, explain your prediction for the expected relationship (positive or negative) between the variables that you identified.  

I predict a positive relationship between effective nurse-patient communication (independent variable) and patient adherence to treatment plans (dependent variable). A positive relationship suggests that as the quality of nurse-patient communication improves, patient adherence to treatment plans also increases (Gray & Grove, 2020). When nurses communicate effectively, patients are more likely to understand their treatment plans, instructions, and the importance of adherence. Clear communication fosters trust, reduces uncertainty, and empowers patients to actively participate in their care. Patients who feel heard, respected, and well-informed are more motivated to follow treatment recommendations. 

Why do you think that sort of relationship will exist? What other factors might affect the outcome? Be specific and provide examples. 

As previously mentioned, I expect a positive relationship to exist. Effective nurse-patient communication is likely to positively impact patient adherence to treatment plans. When nurses communicate clearly, patients better understand their treatment instructions, potential side effects, and the rationale behind specific recommendations. Trust fosters confidence in following treatment plans. Effective communication empowers patients to actively participate in their care decisions by becoming partners in their own health management.  

Other factors that can affect adherence includes health literacy, cultural and language barriers, social support, financial constraints, psychosocial factors, patient beliefs and attitudes, provider-patient relationship, treatment complexity, side effects, and forgetfulness (Thompson & Haskard-Zolnierek, 2020). First, patients with low health literacy may struggle to comprehend complex medical information, even with effective communication. Simplifying instructions and using plain language is crucial. Diverse patient populations may require varying communication needs. Cultural competence and language proficiency play a significant role. Patients with strong social support systems are more likely to adhere to treatment plans. Financial constraints such as cost of medications, access to healthcare, and insurance coverage impact adherence. Anxiety, depression, and stress can affect adherence. A patient’s beliefs about illness, treatment efficacy, and perceived benefits influence adherence. Beyond communication, the overall relationship between nurse and patient matters. Complex regimens that involve multiple medications, dietary restrictions, and lifestyle changes can also pose challenges. Fear of adverse effects may deter adherence. Patients may forget to take medications or follow treatment schedules. 

References

Edgman-Levitan, S., & Schoenbaum, S.C. (2021). Patient-centered care: Achieving higher quality by designing care through the patient’s eyes. Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, 10(1), 1-5. 

Gray, J. R., & Grove, S. K. (2020). Burns and Grove’s the practice of nursing research: Appraisal, synthesis, and generation of evidence (9th ed.). Elsevier.

Kwame, A., & Petrucka, P. M. (2021). A literature-based Study of patient-centered Care and Communication in nurse-patient interactions: barriers, facilitators, and the Way Forward. BMC Nursing, 20(158), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-021-00684-2Links to an external site.

Thompson, T. L., & Haskard-Zolnierek, K. B. (2020). Physician Communication and Patient Adherence to Treatment. Medical Care, 47(8), 826–834. https://doi.org/10.1097/mlr.0b013e31819a5acc