NR 439 Week 1 Graded Discussion Topic: Introduction to Evidence-based Practice
• Chapter 1: The Importance of Research as Evidence in
... [Show More] Nursing
• Chapter 3: Ethical and Legal Considerations in Research
Purpose
This week's graded topics relate to the following Course Outcomes (COs).
• CO 3: Identify ethical issues common to research involving human subjects. (PO 6)
• CO 5: Recognize the role of research findings in evidence-based practice. (PO 7 & 8)
Discussion
We begin our journey into discovering the new world of research and evidence-based practice (EBP) by exploring our past. After completing the required readings and lesson, answer the following:
• Explain how research has evolved since the Florence Nightingale era.
• Discuss how research and EBP are different; include how you believe research supports EBP for nursing.
• Describe one past/historical unethical breach of research conduct; then, share how you would ensure care of a study participant using one ethical or legal research consideration (guideline/principle).
ANSWER
Florence Nightingale was the pioneer of nursing research. As she was the first to “introduce the concept of scientific inquiry as a basis for nursing practice (Houser, 2018, p. 6).” Her collection of evidence of soldier’s health conditions using statistical methods during the Crimean War lead to incorporating nursing education into universities and ultimately to development of the National Institute of Nursing Research. Nightingale’s work established the groundwork in ensuring that nursing practice would “improve the health of individuals, families, communities and populations through evidence-based nursing practice (NINR, 2019).”
Nursing research differs from evidence-based practice (EBP) because research is a “process of inquiry that uses guidelines to produce unbiased, trustworthy answers to questions about nursing practice (Houser, 2018, p. 5)” where EBP uses “scientific evidence integrated with clinical experience and incorporating patient’s vales and preferences (Houser, 2018, p. 13).” Nursing research is used as the foundation to support the triad of EBP to help medical professionals integrate research outcomes into clinical practice decision making, policies and guidelines.
A past unethical breech of research was the discovery that some 500+ foster infants and children in New York City over the span of 20 years (1985-2005) were being used as human subjects of a clinical trial testing experimental AIDS medications and vaccines that lead to the unfortunate death of 80 children (Vera Institute of Justice Final Report, 2009). It was founded that NYC Child Services, whom were the “legal guardians” of foster children, granted these agencies permission to test mediations and vaccines in exchange for payment. The research company was also received large grants for conducting this research on children. I believe foster children were chosen intentionally because they were a vulnerable population unable to give consent. Their respect of person was violated. They were not able to make an informed decision, they were not protected, nor were they given an individual representative/advocate who could have protected their dignity. As the lesson and law states- “no research can be done that could lead to death or disability (CCON, NR-439, 2020, Week 1 Lesson).” So, to answer the question of how I would ensure the care of those study participants, my answer is that these children should have been given individual advocates to protect them and the study should have been halted the moment researchers knew the medications/vaccines would cause harm or death.
Reference
Chamberlain College of Nursing (CCON). (2020). NR-439 RN Evidence-Based Practice; Week 1: Introduction of Evidence-Based Practice [Online lesson]. Downers Grove, IL: DeVry Education Group.
Houser, J. (2018). Nursing research: reading, using, and creating evidence (Fourth). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). (2019, December 19). Retrieved January 4, 2020, from https://www.nih.gov/about-nih/what-we-do/nih-almanac/national-institute-nursing-research-ninr.
Vera Institute of Justice Final Report (2009): 80 NYC Foster Children Died in AIDS Drug Trials. (2016, September 13). Retrieved January 2, 2020, from https://ahrp.org/2009-commissioned-investigation-absolves-nyc-of-80-foster-children-deaths-in-aids-trials/. [Show Less]