| aidemia--modules-essaywrite_request | Write an essay |
| What topic | TASK 1: Investigating a Research Topic Mapped to Assessment Criteria: 1.1 Select a topic relevant to your Access to HE Diploma in Nursing. Examples might include patient safety, the impact of nurse staffing levels, or approaches to patient-centred care. Identify and justify the primary research method(s) you will use for your investigation. For example, surveys, interviews, or observational studies. Estimated Word Count: 450 words |
| Which subject | Health |
| What age group | Doesn't matter |
| How many pages | 3 |
| Add references | |
| Any other preferences |
The quality of patient care is a central concern in the field of nursing, and a crucial aspect that influences this quality is nurse staffing levels. This investigation will focus on the relationship between nurse staffing levels and patient safety outcomes. With evidence suggesting that inadequate staffing can lead to adverse patient events, such as medication errors, falls, and increased mortality rates, it is vital to understand how staffing levels affect healthcare delivery. This research will seek to determine how variations in nurse-to-patient ratios impact the safety and well-being of patients in acute care settings.
To investigate the aforementioned topic, a mixed-methods approach will be employed, combining quantitative and qualitative research methods. This dual approach is justified as it provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate dynamics between nurse staffing levels and patient safety.
The quantitative component will involve the use of structured surveys targeted at registered nurses working in acute care settings. Surveys will be designed to collect data on nurse staffing levels, including ratios, work hours, and the perceived quality of care and patient safety outcomes in their respective units. The advantage of using surveys lies in their ability to gather data from a larger sample size, allowing for statistically significant conclusions to be drawn. The anonymity of the survey will encourage honest and candid responses, which is crucial for a sensitive topic such as staffing levels that may be tied to job satisfaction and workplace morale.
In addition to surveys, qualitative data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with nurse managers and clinical nurse specialists. This qualitative method will provide nuanced insights into the experiences and perceptions of nursing staff regarding the impact of staffing on patient safety. Interviews will allow participants to elaborate on their experiences, providing depth and context that quantitative methods alone cannot achieve. The flexibility of semi-structured interviews will also enable the exploration of unforeseen themes that may arise during discussions, enriching the data collected.
The combination of surveys and interviews will provide a robust dataset that captures both numerical data and human experiences, making it possible to triangulate findings. The quantitative data from surveys will help identify general trends in staffing levels and patient safety outcomes, while the qualitative interviews will delve into the underlying causes and implications of these trends. Furthermore, by collecting data from various sources, the research can enhance validity and reliability.
In conclusion, the investigation into the impact of nurse staffing levels on patient safety is of paramount importance in nursing and healthcare. By employing a mixed-methods approach, this research will provide a comprehensive understanding of how staffing levels affect patient outcomes and highlight potential areas for improvement within healthcare settings.