Qualitative Analysis of Veterans Health Administration, Essay Example

Introduction

Nurses must demonstrate a high level of knowledge and understanding of research and its contribution to the practice environment. They must develop strategies to incorporate evidence-based practice solutions into the workplace setting to promote process improvement and to achieve greater quality in patient care. It is important to distinguish between different types of research in order to establish a greater understanding of the issues that require new perspectives and how to utilize research to improve patient care outcomes. Qualitative and quantitative research possess different focus areas; therefore, both must be addressed in the context of how they might support organizational improvements and nursing-based practice reforms. These approaches must be considered as part of a larger treatment strategy because they impact not only quality of care, but also the means by which nurses improve their own performance and utilize technology and other tools effectively in the workplace environment. Evidence-based practice is a critical component of modern nursing; therefore, it must be used in a positive and meaningful context to enable nurses to be as productive as possible in the work environment.

Analysis

Qualitative research analysis provides a means of examining new solutions to existing practice problems through the evaluation of theoretical perspectives and how they impact problem-solving (Polit & Beck, 2013). In this context, nurses must be able to interpret existing qualitative research studies and apply them to their own purposes, given the context of the issue at hand and what steps are required to promote greater problem-solving in this area (Polit & Beck, 2013). Furthermore, it is important to provide nurses with tools and resources to interpret these problems and to be reflective of the needs of their patients and how prior evidence might be useful in solving significant nursing-related concerns (Polit & Beck, 2013). Evidence-based practice is a complex process; therefore, it must be well understood and each type of research must be distinguishable in order to properly apply the most effective method to a given problem (Schmidt & Brown, 2014). For example, an article by Bonner, Simons, Parker, Yano, & Kirchner (2010) addresses a qualitative approach to clinical informatics at the Veterans Administration in order to determine its impact on patient care quality and effectiveness. Qualitative research is instrumental in examining how systems and methods impact patients by obtaining information and feedback regarding their experiences, as well as those of nurses, who then utilize the information as evidence to improve outcomes. Many different types of research studies serve as evidence for future practice changes and decisions that directly impact patients, and this reflects the importance of developing a strategy that encompasses both qualitative and quantitative studies. Data that is collected regarding childhood obesity, for example, may benefit underserved populations who face a high risk related to this health issue (Fletcher, Cooper, Helms, Northington, & Winters, 2009). Therefore, it is important to consider both qualitative and quantitative approaches to research as part of the evidence-based practice strategy, because both alternatives may work in conjunction to solve nursing concerns that impact the practice environment and its patients.

Conclusion

Qualitative and quantitative research are instrumental in shaping the modern nursing practice setting for a variety of reasons, including the development of new perspectives and strategies to facilitate a more cohesive problem-solving approach to current issues that impact patient care. Research provides evidence-based solutions to encourage nurses to make changes that will positively impact the work environment and to reflect upon the issues that are most indicative of greater patient health and wellbeing over time. Nurses should take advantage of these opportunities and examine their strengths in research to improve performance and quality of care.

References

Bonner, L. M., Simons, C. E., Parker, L. E., Yano, E. M., & Kirchner, J. E. (2010). ‘To take care of the patients’: Qualitative analysis of Veterans Health Administration personnel experiences with a clinical informatics system. Implementation Science, 563-70. doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-63

Fletcher, A., Cooper, J., Helms, P., Northington, L., & Winters, K. (2009). Stemming the tide of childhood obesity in an underserved urban African American population: a pilot study. ABNF Journal, 20(2), 44-48.

Polit, D. F., & Beck, C. T. (2013). Essentials of nursing research: Appraising evidence for nursing practice. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Schmidt, N. A., & Brown, J. M. (2014). Evidence-based practice for nurses. Jones & Bartlett.