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Class, just to clarify substantive posts. The minimum word count should be no less than about 75 words so about 4 sentences at least. Substantive posts must be more than an agreement of another classmate's or professor’s post, but you can add information that you've learned through your studies with scholarly sources.

Post 5:

The focus on patient experience and improving care is expanding. As a result, there is great demand for research and quality improvement initiatives to improve patient outcomes (Ginex, 2017). There are subtle differences, and the similarity between them overlap, which can be challenging when trying to identify the best way to investigate a clinical gap (Ginex, 2017). Both have a goal of improving patient outcomes. “Research is a systematic investigation of phenomena for the purposes of generalizing findings to a population. Researchers aim to add to the current body of knowledge about a particular subject, and results are often published in academic journals” (Merrill, 2015). Like research, quality improvement (QI) is systematic. However, the focus relates to improving outcomes, care, and processes within a particular organization (Merrill, 2015). Both research and quality improvement projects collect data. However, different procedures, such as obtaining approval or consent, are required for research. “When health care providers and nurses carry out a QI project, it may not be the implementation of something new, but an improvement upon something already in place” (Helbig, 2018). These QI projects are unique and specific to the need for improvement at that particular organization. 

When I first started working at my hospital, I noticed the lead nurse following nurses around with a clipboard. Eventually, I discovered that she was observing nurses for compliance with handwashing. I discovered that it was the responsibility of the lead nurse of the day to observe and document 10 nurses during the shift. The data was used to assess for handwashing compliance of a sample of nurses to generalize how compliant the department was as a whole. This is an example of qualitative research. Data is collected by observation and words, not numbers (Helbig, 2018). Eventually, the end date of the data collection was reached with 100% compliance. It made an impact that we hold each other accountable to being compliant in proper handwashing.

We also use quantitative data to keep track of how many days a patient has a peripherally inserted central line catheter (PICC) and compare that data to how many of those lines develop infection. This quantitative data is used to analyze and compare how long a patient has a PICC line and the risk of infection. The data has resulted in a new workflow to review line necessity with each patient and discontinue the line when not medically necessary.

Reference

Ginex, P. K. (2017). The Difference Between Quality Improvement, Evidence-Based Practice, and Research. ONS Voice, 32(8), 35.

Helbig, J. (2018). Statistical Analysis. Applied Statistics for Health Care. Retrieved from  https://lc.gcumedia.com/hlt362v/applied-statistics-for-health-care/v1.1/#/chapter/4

Merrill, K. C. (2015). Is this quality improvement or research? American Nurse Today, 10(4), 14–1.

Post 6:

TWO GROUPS OF THE INDEPENDENT VARIABLE

Class, which one is correct? When there are two groups of the independent variable, then:

a. Only the t-test for 2 independent samples should be used.

b. Either the t-test for 2 independent samples or the Anova can be used.

c. Either the t-test for paired samples or the Anova can be used.

d. Only the Anova should be used. 

Please respond for a substantive credit.