EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH

EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICE AND
APPLIED NURSING RESEARCH —

COMPETENCIES
724.8.5 : Foundations of Inquiry
The graduate differentiates between quality improvement processes, evidence based practice, and research.
724.8.6 : Literature Review and Analysis
The graduate demonstrates knowledge of the process and outcomes of conducting a literature review.
724.8.7 : Ethics and Research
The graduate demonstrates understanding of the ethics of nursing research, particularly human subjects’
protections, informed consent, and alignment with patient and family values and preferences.
724.8.8 : Patient Outcomes
The graduate discriminates between identified standards and practices that do not provide improvements in
patient outcomes utilizing relevant sources of evidence and the application of nursing theory.
724.8.9 : Data Collection, Analysis, and Dissemination
The graduate describes the process of data collection, analysis, and implementation of evidence that can
improve clinical practice from an interprofessional perspective.
INTRODUCTION
There are many sources of information available on the web and in journals relating to the nursing discipline.
Therefore, it is of pivotal importance to understand the basic tenets of critical appraisal of research for its
use in interprofessional healthcare practices. The aim of evidence-based practice (EBP) is to employ a threepronged approach, blending the best available research evidence, patient values and preferences, and clinical
expertise.
In this task, you will critique two primary research evidence sources. You will select one quantitative and one
qualitative peer-reviewed journal article on a healthcare topic of interest.
REQUIREMENTS
Yoursubmission must be your original work. No more than a combined total of 30% of the submission and no more
than a 10% match to any one individualsource can be directly quoted or closely paraphrased from sources, even if
cited correctly. An originality report is provided when you submit your task that can be used as a guide.
You must use the rubric to direct the creation of yoursubmission because it provides detailed criteria that will be
used to evaluate your work. Each requirement below may be evaluated by more than one rubric aspect. The rubric
aspect titles may contain hyperlinksto relevant portions of the course.
10/18/2019 WGU Performance Assessment
https://tasks.wgu.edu/student/000707967/course/4200002/task/617/overview 2/6
Note: Research evidence must not be more than ve years old.
Note: Upload a copy of the full text of the articles with yoursubmission.
Note: You may use the same topic and research articles on both Task 1: Analyzing Research Articles and Task 2:
Evidence-Based Practice Change.
A. Evaluate a primary, quantitative research, peer-reviewed journal article (suggested length of 3–5 pages)
that has healthcare implications by doing the following:
Note: You may select an article focusing on a healthcare topic of your choice or an article focusing on one of the
following topics: falls and fall prevention, pain management in children, opioid abuse, hepatitis C, catheterassociated urinary tract infections, or hand hygiene and infectionsin hospitals.
1. Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article:
background or introduction (e.g., the purpose of the study)
review of the literature (e.g., research used to support the study)
data analysis (e.g., how the researcher analyzed the data)
methodology (e.g., research type and sampling methods)
2. Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part A1
supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research.
3. Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the
researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part A.
4. Describe one strength and one limitation of the study.
5. Describe how the evidence from the article in part A informs current nursing practices.
B. Evaluate a primary, qualitative research, peer-reviewed journal article (suggested length of 3–5 pages) that
has healthcare implications by doing the following:
Note: You may select an article focusing on a healthcare topic of your choice or an article focusing on one of the
following topics: falls and fall prevention, pain management in children, opioid abuse, hepatitis C, catheter
associated urinary tract infections, or hand hygiene and infectionsin hospitals. You may use the same topic that
was used in part A.
1. Describe how the researcher addresses the following four areas in the selected journal article:
background or introduction (e.g., the purpose of the study)
review of the literature (e.g., research used to support the study)
data analysis (e.g., how the researcher analyzed the data)
methodology (e.g., research type and sampling methods)
2. Evaluate whether the evidence presented in each of the four areas of the journal article from part B1
supports the outcome of the study and implications for future research.
3. Explain how the protection of human subjects and cultural considerations were addressed by the
researcher, using specific information from the journal article from part B.
4. Identify one strength and one limitation of the study.
5. Describe how the evidence from the article in part B informs current nursing practices.
C. Acknowledge sources, using APA-formatted in-text citations and references, for content that is quoted,
paraphrased, or summarized.
D. Demonstrate professional communication in the content and presentation of your submission.
10/18/2019 WGU Performance Assessment
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RUBRIC
A1:A1. QUANTITATIVE: ARTICLE AREAS
A2:QUANTITATIVE: CRITIQUE OF EVIDENCE
A3:QUANTITATIVE: PROTECTION AND CONSIDERATIONS
A4:QUANTITATIVE: STRENGTH AND LIMITATION
NOT EVIDENT
An article is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
Does not identify a primary,
quantitative research, peerreviewed journal article
(suggested length of 3–5 pages)
that has healthcare implications.
The description does not
address all of the given points,
or the description of any point is
not supported by the article.
COMPETENT
Identifies a primary, quantitative
research, peer-reviewed journal
article (suggested length of 3–5
pages) that has healthcare
implications. Evaluates the
article by doing the following:
The description addresses all 4 of
the given points, and the
description of each point is
supported by the article.
NOT EVIDENT
An evaluation of evidence is not
provided for each area of the
journal article from part A1.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The evaluation of evidence
presented for any area of the
journal article from part A1 does
not logically show whether that
section’s evidence supports the
outcome of the study and
implications for future research.
COMPETENT
The evaluation of evidence
presented for each area of the
journal article from part A1
logically shows whether that
section’s evidence supports the
outcome of the study and
implications for future research.
NOT EVIDENT
An explanation of how the
protection of human subjects
and cultural considerations
were addressed by the
researcher is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The explanation does not use
specific information from the
journal article from part A to
show how the protection of
human subjects and cultural
considerations were addressed
by the researcher.
COMPETENT
The explanation uses specific
information from the journal
article from part A to show how
the protection of human subjects
and cultural considerations were
addressed by the researcher.
NOT EVIDENT COMPETENT
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A5:QUANTITATIVE: EVIDENCE APPLICATION
B1:QUALITATIVE: ARTICLE AREAS
B2:QUALITATIVE: CRITIQUE OF EVIDENCE
A submission is not provided, or
the submission does not identify
1 strength or 1 limitation of the
study.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The submission is missing
relevant information about the
1 identified strength or the 1
identified limitation of the study.
The submission provides
relevant information about the 1
identified strength and the 1
identified limitation of the study.
NOT EVIDENT
A submission is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The submission does not
describe how the evidence from
the article in part A informs
current nursing practices. Or
the description is not supported
with specific examples of
currently used nursing
practices.
COMPETENT
The submission accurately
describes how the evidence from
the article in part A informs
current nursing practices. The
description is supported with
specific examples of currently
used nursing practices.
NOT EVIDENT
An article is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
Does not identify a primary,
qualitative research, peerreviewed journal article
(suggested length of 3–5 pages)
that has healthcare implications.
The description does not
address all of the given points,
or the description of any point is
not supported by the article.
COMPETENT
Identifies a primary, qualitative
research, peer-reviewed journal
article (suggested length of 3–5
pages) that has healthcare
implications. Evaluates the
article by doing the following:
The description addresses all 4 of
the given points, and the
description of each point is
supported by the article.
NOT EVIDENT
An evaluation of evidence is not
provided for each area of the
journal article from part B1.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The evaluation of evidence
presented for any area of the
journal article from part B1 does
not logically show whether that
section’s evidence supports the
COMPETENT
The evaluation of evidence
presented for each area of the
journal article from part B1
logically shows whether that
section’s evidence supports the
outcome of the study and
implications for future research.
10/18/2019 WGU Performance Assessment
https://tasks.wgu.edu/student/000707967/course/4200002/task/617/overview 5/6
B3:QUALITATIVE: PROTECTION AND CONSIDERATIONS
B4:QUALITATIVE: STRENGTH AND LIMITATION
B5:QUALITATIVE: EVIDENCE APPLICATION
C.:APA SOURCES
outcome of the study and
implications for future research.
NOT EVIDENT
An explanation of how the
protection of human subjects
and cultural considerations
were addressed by the
researcher is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The explanation does not use
specific information from the
journal article from part B to
show how the protection of
human subjects and cultural
considerations were addressed
by the researcher.
COMPETENT
The explanation uses specific
information from the journal
article from part B to show how
the protection of human subjects
and cultural considerations were
addressed by the researcher.
NOT EVIDENT
A submission is not provided, or
the submission does not identify
1 strength or 1 limitation of the
study.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The submission is missing
relevant information about the
1 identified strength or the 1
identified limitation of the study.
COMPETENT
The submission provides
relevant information about the 1
identified strength and the 1
identified limitation of the study.
NOT EVIDENT
A submission is not provided.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The submission does not
describe how the evidence from
the article in part B informs
current nursing practices. Or
the description is not supported
with specific examples of
currently used nursing
practices.
COMPETENT
The submission describes how
the evidence from the article in
part B informs current nursing
practices. The description is
supported with specific examples
of currently used nursing
practices.
NOT EVIDENT
The submission does not include
in-text citations and references
according to APA style for
content that is quoted,
paraphrased, or summarized.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
The submission includes in-text
citations and references for
content that is quoted,
paraphrased, or summarized but
COMPETENT
The submission includes in-text
citations and references for
content that is quoted,
paraphrased, or summarized and
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D.:PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
does not demonstrate a
consistent application of APA
style.
demonstrates a consistent
application of APA style.
NOT EVIDENT
Content is unstructured, is
disjointed, or contains pervasive
errors in mechanics, usage, or
grammar. Vocabulary or tone is
unprofessional or distracts from
the topic.
APPROACHING
COMPETENCE
Content is poorly organized, is
difficult to follow, or contains
errors in mechanics, usage, or
grammar that cause confusion.
Terminology is misused or
ineffective.
COMPETENT
Content reflects attention to
detail, is organized, and focuses
on the main ideas as prescribed
in the task or chosen by the
candidate. Terminology is
pertinent, is used correctly, and
effectively conveys the intended
meaning. Mechanics, usage, and
grammar promote accurate
interpretation and
understanding.