Effective 4/1/07

Course Title:	NR520 - Research Processes in Nursing
Department:	Health Sciences
Instructor:	Mary Lyn Page, MSN, RN   E-Mail - Vita
Email:	marylynpage@comcast.net or marylyn@canyoncollege.edu
Fax:	(203) 421-0992

Required Textbook:   Online Bookstore

The Practice of Nursing Research: Conduct, Critique, and Utilization, (5th Edition), by Burns, N. & Grove, S. K.. W. B. Saunders Company (Elsevier) (2004/2005). ISBN-13: 9780721606262 ISBN: 0721606261

Course Description:

NR520 is a Masters level course designed to expand on the nursing research process. Emphasis is placed on critically evaluating nursing research studies, understanding the importance of utilizing research for evidence based practice, and developing ideas for a research proposal to be used in the workplace.

Course Objectives:

At the end of this course the student should be able to:

1. Describe the significance of nursing research
2. Define research methodology and the research process.
3. Describe and distinguish between quantitative and qualitative research.
4. Discuss the purpose and process of a literature review.
5. Formulate potential research objectives, questions, and hypotheses.
6. Critically analyze nursing studies.
7. Identify several sources of nursing research information.
8. Develop nursing research proposal ideas for your employer.

Instructor Availability:

Best way to reach me is by e-mail – I usually check it at least once a day.

About the Instructor:

I am currently a clinical field nurse educator for a pharmaceutical company. I provide training and education to patients and run patient education programs. I have previously worked as a clinical instructor for the University of Connecticut School of Nursing and Fairfield University School of Nursing. I have a BSN from Skidmore College and an MSN from the University of Phoenix. I am certified in Multiple Sclerosis Nursing and a member of IOMSN.

Technology Issues:

Assignments are to be submitted via e-mail or fax. If e-mail is selected, assignments should be sent as an attachment in MS Word format. If you use another word processing program, please use the "Save As" option to save the document in MS Word format. If for some reason you cannot save as a Word document, you may save it as "Rich Text Format" (RTF).

Quizzes are located in the classroom under “testing”. You have 90 minutes to complete each quiz. You can only enter a test once and complete it at the same time so be sure to allow private time to complete the test.

Written Assignments: A cover page should include a title, your name and email address, course name, instructor name, date, and week #. All margins are 1", Times New Roman 12-point font. All borrowed work must include appropriate citations and reference. Refer to the APA manual for proper format. See: http://linguistics.byu.edu/faculty/henrichsenl/apa/apa01.html for more info on reference/citation formatting You are encouraged to use the internet for research or other professional/academic sources of information to supplement your assignments. You will need access to professional journals either on the WWW or local medical libraries. Be sure to credit all material.

MSN Research ASSIGNMENTS

WEEK ONE

1. Reading: Chapters 12, 25, and 29 in the Burns & Grove text
2. Research: Access and explore the Agency for Health Care Practice and Research (AHCPR) website (www.ahcpr.gov)
3. Written:
   • a. Submit a brief biography including your background, education, job experience, and professional interests (1/2 page). (1 point)
   • b. Select two "evidence" reports from the AHCPR website and write a one-page summary of each report. Include why the research was important, who will benefit from the findings, and how nurses can use the findings. (4 points)

WEEK TWO

1. Reading: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4
2. Take the NR520 Quiz #1 located in the classroom (15 points)

WEEK THREE

1. Reading: Chapters 5, 6, 7 & 8 in text
2. Take the NR520 Quiz #2 located in the classroom (20 points)

WEEK FOUR

1. Reading: Chapters 10, 14 , 15 & 16 in the text
2. Take the NR520 Quiz #3 located in the classroom (20 points)

WEEK FIVE

1. Reading: Chapters 11, 17, 23
2. Take the NR520 Quiz #4 located in the classroom (20 points)

WEEK SIX: Written:
4-6 page paper
List 3 ideas that you have for research in your clinical setting- Consider problems that could be used for research studies in your workplace. Develop 3 different research proposals and explain to me if your proposed research studies would be a qualitative or quantitative studies- be specific and define and explain to me the meaning quantitative or qualitative and how you would plan to do each study. If this is a quantitative proposal, identify and define the independent and dependent variables. Describe and explain how you would obtain a sample, collect data, and measure collected data. Develop all three topics. Use your text book as a reference for developing your studies.

Be specific and measurable- don’t be vague or select topics that are so broad they can’t be measured- do not propose to study a preconceived (biased) opinion about something not based on previous research or fact. Review nursing research journals to help you identify appropriate topics. Avoid thinking in terms of implementing some new idea- whatever you choose, make sure it is based on a known problem in your clinical setting and/or a review of the literature. (20 points)

Grading:

93-100	= A
90-92	= A-
83-89	= B
80-82	= B-
73-79	= C
70-72	= C-
63-69	= D
60-62	= D-
below 60	= F