Masters of Science in Nursing Completion Program

NRS 551 - Nursing Research

Instructor: WILLIAM PAUL EMMERLING, EdD, FNP-C, RHIA, LFACHE

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: This course offers the graduate-nursing student an overview of research process using scientific methodology to investigate problems in clinical practice. The major topics of this course includes the types of research approaches, formulating a research problem, hypothesis, research questions, literature reviews and analysis of reviewed resources. The most important dimension of this course will be the application of the research strategies to practice based situations as the student progresses through this course and once the APN is in their clinical practice as a graduate of this program.

This is not a statistics course. Statistics should have been taken on the bachelor’s level of study. Do not discount the importance of statistics in your research endeavors.

TIME FRAME: This is a three-hour course. Ten weeks are allotted for you to complete the requirements for this course. Unless there is valid justification you are expected to meet the time frame for completion of all requirements. Planning and pacing your time is crucial for success. Upon completion of all the requirements you will be awarded three hours of credit.

TEXTBOOKS: The following textbooks are required for this course.

Book 1: American Psychological Association. (5th Ed). Publication manual of the american psychological association. Washington, DC.

Book 2: Research Strategies for Advanced Practice Nurses. Norwood, S.L. (2000). Upper River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

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Other resources to consider:

Book 3: The Craft of Research. Booth, W.C., Colomb, G.G., Williams, J.M. Chicago: U of Chicago Press. 2003

Professional Journals for locating articles. Utilize the Internet, library, etc. Any research should be within the past five years and journal articles within the past two years.

PAPERS AND EXAMINATION: Upon completing a Chapter in the required reading text (Norwood) you are to summarize the key issues of the reading and email it to me. The summary should not exceed two pages. You are demonstrating the learning that is occurring and your ability to communicate it to me.

PAPERS AND EXAM:

Chapter summaries (10% total)
Literature critiques each 5% (30% total)
Qualitative Research critique 15%
Quantitative Research critique 15%
Final Exam 30%

GRADING: The grading for this course is as follows:

90-100%    - A
80-89%      - B
70-79%      - C
Below 70% - Fail

COMMUNICATION: Email is the regular method for communicating. You are expected to maintain weekly contact with me. It is critical for you to inform me should there be a change in an email address. Likewise, I am responsible to inform you of any email change. Should phone contact be necessary it will be arranged.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR: Bill Emmerling, EdD, FNP-c, RHIA is your instructor. Dr. Emmerling has over 30 years of professional nursing experience. He has worked in a variety of clinical, administrative and regulatory settings. He is a retired Nurse Officer (06) with the USPHS Commissioned Officer Corps and presently affiliated with the Paiute Health and Human Services Clinics in Las Vegas and the Moapa Reservation as an APN (FNP-c) primary care provider and health information administration consultant.

GETTING STARTED: As soon as you have your textbooks for the course you may begin your course of study. You are expected to read the primary textbook and complete the assignments within the time frames noted.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1). Apply research skills as a core competency for an APN.
2). Analyze research sources.
3). Critique literature sources for application to practice.
4). Understand research process.
5). Recognize the characteristics of qualitative and quantitative research.
6). Apply ethical principles in clinical research.
7). Formulate a study problem.
8). Understand the framework of research and its application.
9). Incorporate research effectively into practice on an ongoing basis.
10). Participate in research opportunities.

QUESTIONS: If you have any questions about the course, you may contact the instructor at drbill45@netzero.net.

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