Professional Development
Reading and Understanding Research Articles for Application to Practice #1016 (1.00 CH)
Doreen Wagner, PhD, RN, CNOR
Professor
WellStar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University
Marietta, Georgia
Kathleen Gaberson, PhD,RN,CNOR,CNE,ANEF
Consultant
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scientifically demonstrated evidence should be the gold standard for perioperative practice. How can practicing perioperative nurses determine if research results actually affect their nursing practice? Most often, evidence from nursing studies is disseminated through research articles that describe what was studied, how it was measured, and what the outcomes were. How do you know if an article presents valid and reliable evidence on which to base a practice change, or if you should question the findings because of flawed research methods? In this educational session, we will discuss a useful and basic process for reading and understanding scientific research articles. You will learn how to evaluate research evidence using a critical appraisal approach. By the end of this session, you will understand the benefits of research literacy and use strategies for reading, understanding, and critiquing research articles that affect your perioperative practice.