Running head: REVIEW OF REFERENCES 1

Review of References to Guide Practice Decisions

Katie D. VanderVelde
Ferris State University













Abstract


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To read and re-evaluate two research articles helps understand what makes a knowledgeable and
high level of evidence source. Information about the article included clinical significance, the
population studied, the authors and their affiliation, the credibility, and the significance to
nursing. In addition, information was provided on what makes an article considered to be high
level of evidence and trustworthy to nursing practice. The articles were looked at in-depth to see
if the they are credible and significant enough to be used as nursing research. When the articles
are compared a better insight of what makes a source knowledgeable in evidence-based practice
is gained. To combine nursing research and practice at the bedside provides care that is focused
on quality and safety. The first article had a high level of evidence and can be used as nursing
research, whereas the second article is not based on nursing research and had a low level of
evidence.








Review of References to Guide Practice Decisions


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To have a better perspective on what nursing research is all about includes in-depth
analysis of research articles and their sources. The purpose of this assignment is to, develop
knowledge to build a scientific foundation for nursing practice. In addition, the purpose of this
assignment is to re-evaluate references used to guide practice decisions, using knowledge gained
from the first few weeks of class (Singleterry, 2014, p. 8). The assignment will also provide
practice and feedback using American Psychological Association [APA] in order to conquer the
format as best as possible (Singleterry, 2014, p. 8).
Credibility
In order to reflect on two articles and decide whether they are scholarly and credible
sources, a well-defined definition of credibility needs to be established. Some say that an article
that is credible and scholarly is related to its impact factor. As stated in Nieswiadomy (2010),
the impact factor is a number used to see whether an article influences others or not. The higher
the impact factor the more influence it has on the scientific aspect of the community
(Nieswiadomy, 2012, p. 265). However, the impact factor cannot be the only factor to determine
if a source is credible or scholarly. In addition, a scholarly source should implement ways in
which the information provided promotes evidence-based research. Successful implementation
of research into practice includes the level of evidence, the context or environment, and the
method of action (Kitson, Harvey, & McCormack, 1998). Making sure that a high level of
evidence is provided within the source is a good way in to recognize credibility. Not to mention,
a peer-reviewed source is another factor that ties into whether the article is credible. The process
of peer review requires professional colleagues who are experts in the field to review the article


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or journal (Nieswiadomy, 2012, p. 265). The process of sources to be reviewed in the field of
nursing provides standards in order to promote evidence-based practice.
Nursing Research
Along with evidence-based practice and the credibility of a source, nursing research also
relates to evidence-based practice. Throughout the years nursing research has been based on
evidence-based research. Nursing research emphasizes the need for the development and
evaluation of new types of care, the expansion of nursing theories and concepts, the impact on
policy and practice, and education in the field of nursing (Moule & Goodman, 2013). The
expansion of nursing theories and concepts is a theme in nursing research that relates to
evidence-based practice. Research in nursing provides ways to grow in the field and perform the
highest level of best practice. Evidence-based practice is associated with the level of evidence in
nursing research. As stated in one article, the level of evidence is an important factor in
Evidence Based Medicine or Practice (EBM or EBP). To understand the levels and why they are
in certain publications and abstracts helps the reader prioritize information. This is not to say
that all level 4 evidence should be ignored and all level 1 evidence accepted. The level of
evidence provides a guide so the reader can carefully interpret results (Burns, Rohrich, & Chung,
2011).
Review of Sources
The first article by Duran, Oman, Abel, Koziel, and Szymanski (2007) is reviewed from a
source called the American Journal of Critical Care (AJCC). As stated by the article, AJCC is
the official peer-reviewed research journal of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses


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(AACN). No impact factor is given, however, the authors of the article are highly affiliated and
involved with the AACN. At the time the study was conducted, Duran was a kidney and
pancreas transplant nurse coordinator, and Koziel was a nurse in the emergency department at
the University of Colorado Hospital. Oman was a research nurse scientist. Szymanski was an
emergency department nurse, and Abel was a nurse in the surgical intensive care unit at the
University of Colorado. The purpose of the article is to describe and compare beliefs about
family presence in the hospital by patient, physicians, and patients families (Duran et al., 2007).
After a better knowledge of the source is gained a level of evidence is configured.
According to the article the populations studied were clinicians, patients families, and patients
in the emergency department and intensive care units of a 300-bed urban hospital. A total of 202
clinicians, 72 family members, and 63 patients completed a survey on the subject (Duran et al.,
2007, p. 270). In addition the survey conducted both quantitative and qualitative data (Duran et
al., 2007, p. 281). Based on the AACNs evidence-leveling system (2009), the evidence
provided by the journal would be level C. A level C study is systematic reviews of descriptive,
qualitative, correlational, systematic, or integrative studies with inconsistent results (Armola et
al., 2009). Since the article surveyed a total of 300 individuals and used both quantitative and
qualitative data a level C fits the characteristics of the study performed in the journal. In
addition, the nurses had a more favorable attitude towards family presence then did the
physicians (Duran et al., 2007).
Also, borrowed knowledge can play a huge role in nursing research, which is what
happens to scientific or nursing knowledge when researchers outside the science bring
components of a trend across boundaries for their own purposes (Kellert, 2009). Since the


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authors of Duran et al. (2007) are all part of some nursing-based association or occupation, and
the study was for the purpose of nursing, borrowed knowledge is not identified in the study.
Duran et al. (2007) is a nursing research source supported by the level of evidence, peer-review,
and nursing affiliated authors. The other sources would be a better selection, since the level of
evidence is not the highest.
The second article reviewed is from a source known as Emergency Nurse. Emergency
Nurse is the only practice-based journal in the United Kingdom written specifically for nurses
working in all aspects of unscheduled, urgent and emergency care (Emergency Nurse, 2014, p.
1). In addition, the source is associated with the Royal College of Nursing Emergency Care
Association that publishes ten issues of magazines a year (Emergency Nurse, 2014, p. 1). No
known impact number was given, however, the article is conducted by a double-blind peer
review (Humphreys, 2006). In the case of a double-blind review, the reviewers of the article do
not know the identity of the author(s), and the author(s) do not know the identity of the reviewer
(Nieswiadomy, 2012, p. 266). A double-blind peer review allows reviewers and author(s) to
have a similar and unbiased review. The author of the article has her masters in nursing and is a
senior lecturer in continuing professional studies at the University Of Wolverhampton School of
Health (Humphrey, 2009, p. 30). As stated in Humphreys (2009), the populations studied are
patients who have been diagnosed with acute pericarditis, pericardial effusion, and cardiac
tamponade.
Throughout examination of the evidence provided by the article the level of evidence
would be level E, which is theory-based evidence from expert opinion or multiple case reports
(Armola et al., 2009). The information in the journal describes electrocardiogram changes in


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certain conditions supported by experts. Borrowed knowledge is used in Humphreys (2006)
and is based on results of other researchers. A study is not really performed, but rather a
summary of outcomes that happened from others previous work. Humphreys (2006) gathered
information and described an opinion within the journal. Altogether Humphreys (2006) is a not
a nursing research source as supported by level E evidence and usage of borrowed knowledge.
Significance to Nursing
After the sources are re-evaluated a better interpretation of what is significant to nursing
was defined. To interpret references and quality sources is very significant to nursing. Nursing
should involve evidence-based practice supported by research. As stated by standard nine, the
nurse integrates evidence-based research into practice (American Nurses Association [ANA],
2010). Nurses should be aware of the nursing research that is available so that the best and most
up-to-date practice is performed.
Also as stated by standard eleven, the nurse communicates effectively in all areas of
practice (ANA, 2010). In order to communicate the correct information, the nurse needs to know
what the current nursing research findings suggest. To teach and integrate sources that are
distinct to nursing promotes evidence-based practice. In relation, standard thirteen states that the
nurse collaborates with the healthcare team, family, and others in nursing practice (ANA, 2010).
Sources that provide nurses with the ability to communicate findings to patients and healthcare
staff are significant in the role of evidence-based practice.
To integrate nursing research into practice is also significant to quality and safety aspects
of nursing. The quality and safety of nursing involves evidence-based nursing practice (EBNP).


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Evidence-based nursing means that nurses make the clinical decisions based on nursing research,
clinical expertise, and the patients preferences (Nieswiadomy, 2012, p. 5). The quality and
safety in nursing also includes credibility and accountability. Nurses need to be accountable, or
reliable, for the care they receive in a professional manor. As stated in Nieswiadomy (2012),
nursing has been known for borrowed knowledge from natural and social sciences to support
their practice. In order to be credible, the nursing profession should have research based on the
field of nursing.
In conclusion, to promote evidence-based research, credibility, and accountability defines
nursing quality and safety. Nurses should have research specific to their profession in order to
integrate, communicate, and collaborate evidence-based practice. To read and re-evaluate
sources provides the opportunity to select sources that support evidence-based practice. Being
able to distinguish nursing research from other sources is a step towards trustworthy, nursing
care.









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References
American Nurses Association (2010). Nursing scope and standards of practice (2
nd
ed.). Silver
Spring, MD, Author.
Armola, R. R., Bourgault, A. M., Halm, M. A., Board, R. M., Bucher, L., Medina, J. (2009).
AACN levels of /Research/01%20-%20AACN%20Evidence%20Levels.pdf evidence:
Whats new? Critical Care Nurse, 29(4), 70-73. Retrieved from
http://www.aacn.org/WD/Practice/Docs
Burns, P. B., Rohrich, R. J., & Chung, K. C. (2011). The levels of evidence and their role in
evidence-based medicine. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 128(1), 305. Retrieved
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3124652/
Duran, C. R., Oman, K. S., Abel, J. J., Koziel, V. M., & Szymanski, D. (2007). Attitudes toward
and beliefs about family presence: A survey of healthcare providers, patients families,
and patients. American Journal of Critical Care, 16(3), 270279. Retrieved from
http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/content/16/3/270
Emergency Nurse. (2014). About (RCNP). Retrieved February 13, 2014, from
http://rcnpublishing.com/page/en/about
Humphreys, M. (2006). Pericardial conditions: Signs, symptoms and electrocardiogram changes.
Emergency Nurse, 14(1), 30. Retrieved from
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA144869686&v=2.1&u=lom_ferrissu&it
=r&p=ITOF&sw=w&asid=9efb2d142b0e1f9ac32185133fd10e71


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Kellert, S. H. (2009). What was chaos theory, and why would people want to borrow it? In
Borrowed knowledge chaos theory and the challenge of learning across disciplines (1).
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Kitson, A., Harvey, G., & McCormack, B. (1998). Enabling the implementation of evidence
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Goodman,+M.+%282013%29.+Nursing+research:+An+introduction.+Sage.
Nieswiadomy, R.M. (2012). Foundations of Nursing Research (6th ed.). Boston: Pearson.
Singleterry, L. (2014). NURS 340 nursing research. [Syllabus], School of Nursing, Ferris State
University, Michigan, United States.