NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment – Step-by-Step Guide
The first step before starting to write the NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment: Evidence-Based Project, Part 3: Acritical Appraisal of Research, it is essential to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. It is also important to identify the audience of the paper and its purpose so that it can help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, you should review its use, such as writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review how to format the title page and the headings in the paper.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify the list of keywords from your topic using different combinations. The first step is to visit the university library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last words and go through each to check for credibility.
Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, for example, in APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching about. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next you should create a detailed outline of the paper so that it can help you to create headings and subheadings to be used in the paper. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part as it helps to provide the context of your work, and will determine if the reader will be interested to read through to the end. You should start with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.
How to Write the Body for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence conducted from the research, ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance and how it connects to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between each paragraph by using transition words and a flow of ideas.
How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
In-text citations help the reader to give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their works. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:
The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Smith (2021), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Johnson and Brown (2020) highlight that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restarting your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper, by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. End with a call to action that leaves a lasting impact on the reader or recommendations.
How to Format the Reference List for NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment
The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded, in sentence sentence care. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication.
Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:
References
Johnson, L. M., & Brown, R. T. (2020). The role of telehealth in improving patient outcomes. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, 35(2), 123-130. https://doi.org/10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000456
Smith, J. A. (2021). The impact of technology on nursing practice. Health Press.
An Example NURS 6052 Module 4 Assignment Follows:
Evidence-based Project, Part 3: Critical Appraisal of Research
Critical appraisal is the fourth of the six steps of evidence-based practice to appraise the selected evidence. This critical appraisal serves two main purposes: to assess the evidence for its closeness to the truth or the actual occurrence in the population and to assess the evidence for usefulness in application to practice. My clinical issue of interest was the use of probiotics in the treatment of gastrointestinal symptoms associated with antibiotic use. Eight journal articles from peer-reviewed journals were selected for early steps of critical appraisal. In this critical appraisal, four of the eight articles with varying methodologies and levels of evidence are appraised and evaluated. With this done, you are now read to recommend an evidence-based practice change, a task to be completed in week 7 assignment of NURS 6052.
Part 3 A: Evaluation Table
| Full APA formatted citation of the selected article. | Article #1 | Article #2 | Article #3 | Article #4 |
| Skrzydto-Radomańska, B., Prozorow-Król, B., Cichoż-Lach, H., Majsiak, E., Bierła, J. B., Kanarek, E., Sowińska, A., &Cukrowska, B. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of multi-strain probiotic preparation in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled study. Nutrients, 13(3), 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030756 | Hibberd, A. A., Yde, C. C., Ziegler, M. L., Honoré, A. H., Saarinen, M. T., Lahtinen, S., Stahl, B., Jensen, H. M., &Stenman, L. K. (2019). Probiotic or synbiotic alters the gut microbiota and metabolism in a randomized controlled weight management trial in overweight adults. Beneficial Microbes, 10(2), 121–135. https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2018.0028 | Rui, X., & Ma, S.-X. (2020). A retrospective study of probiotics for the treatment of children with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Medicine, 99(23), e20631. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000020631 | Arnold, L. E., Luna, R. A., Williams, K., Chan, J., Parker, R. A., Wu, Q., Hollway, J. A., Jeffs, A., Lu, F., Coury, D. L., Hayes, C., &Savidge, T. (2019). Probiotics for gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in autism: A placebo-controlled pilot trial. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 29(9), 659–669. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2018.0156 | |
| Evidence Level *(I, II, or III) | This is an evidence level I study (Randomized Controlled Study). | The study is evidence Level I (Randomized Controlled Trial). | Evidence Level III (Observational/non-experimental study). | Evidence Level I (A Placebo-Controlled Randomized Pilot Trial). |
| Conceptual Framework Describe the theoretical basis for the study (If there is no one mentioned in the article, say that here).** | The study aimed to determine whether the use of a multi-strain probiotic in adults with irritable bowel syndrome that predominantly presents with diarrhea was effective and safe. | The research aimed to determine if gut microbiota changes attributed to probiotic or symbiotic use were associated with the earlier observed clinical benefits of controlling energy metabolism and body fat mass in overweight adult individuals. | This study aimed to determine the safety and benefits of probiotics, particularly live combined Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium granules with multivitamins when used in the management of children with diarrhea attributed to antibiotics. | The conceptual framework of the research was to analyze gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in regards to targeted probiotic use with the expected effect on the quality of life in autistic spectrum disorders. |
| Design/Method Describe the design and how the study was carried out (In detail, including inclusion/exclusion criteria). | The study adopted a randomized controlled study which is a type of experimental study. Adult patients with the aforementioned condition were randomly selected into two groups. One group was set to receive a multi-strain probiotic for eight weeks whereas the second group was a control group receiving a placebo for a similar duration. The two groups were observed for anticipated outcomes such as changes in the severity of symptoms and clinical improvement based on the IBS severity scoring system and Global improvement score. | A randomized controlled trial of protocol-compliant participants was randomly assigned to one of the four groups of interventions, including a group receiving a placebo, and observed for six months. Plasma and fecal samples were collected from these individuals at baseline, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and one month post-intervention. These samples were then examined for fecal microbiota composition and metabolites and the correlation with obesity-related clinical outcomes was established. | This retrospective observational study analyzed children with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. These were randomly allocated into two groups; one intervention group receiving standard treatment with probiotics and the other group being the control group thus receiving only the routine care. The treatment for both groups lasted for 7 days. The duration of diarrhea, the number of days required dressing, the severity of abdominal pain, the consistency of stool, and any noted adverse occurrence were all measures used to assess the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. | A controlled randomized pilot trial was conducted on children of age between 3 to 12 years with preexisting autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, and gastrointestinal symptoms and was randomly allocated into two groups of probiotic crossovers for eight weeks with an in-between three-week washout. One group received a placebo/probiotic sequence, whereas the other had a probiotic/placebo sequence. A mixed analysis was then employed to assess the primary and secondary outcomes. |
| Sample/Setting The number and characteristics ofpatients, attrition rate, etc. | The study sample consisted of 51 patients with diarrhea-predominant inflammatory bowel disease who were randomly selected from 76 patients meeting the inclusion criteria of greater than 175 points based on the IBS-SSS score. | The study population was from a larger clinical study of healthy adults who were either overweight or obese, of whom a total of 134 protocol-compliant individuals were selected for the study. | The study was conducted in Jiamusi University First Affiliated Hospital whereby participants were 72 children between the age of five to eleven years diagnosed with AAD with no other preexisting gastrointestinal illness. | The study involved 13 children aged between 3 and 12 years who had ASD, gastrointestinal symptoms, and anxiety. |
| Major Variables Studied List and define dependent and independent variables | The independent variable was the multi-strain probiotic treatment for the intervention group and the placebo for the control group. The dependent variables under observation in both groups included improvement or changes in the severity of IBS symptoms with specific attention to the pain intensity, quality of life, and presence of adverse events in the study participants. | The independent variable in this study was probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis subspecies lactis 420 and the placebo used which were Litesse ultra polydextrose and microcrystalline cellulose. The dependent variables were the fecal microbiota or gut flora composition and metabolites and correlation with waist-hip ratio. | The independent variables in this particular study were the probiotics used which included live combined Bacillus subtilis and Enterococcus faecium granules when added or not added to standard treatment of AAD in children. The dependent variables were the diarrhea duration in days, daily dressing number needed, the severity of abdominal pain, consistency of stool, whether normal, liquid, or constipated, and any experienced adverse outcome, all of which were used to determine the safety and effectiveness of the probiotic. | The independent variable was VISBIOME, which is a probiotic formulation with eight species, mainly Lactobacillus and a placebo, administered to study subjects. The dependent variables were health benefits, with the pediatric quality of life inventory GI module as the primary outcome, the parent-rated anxiety scale for autism spectrum disorder, the analysis of microbiota, and the parent-chosen target symptoms as the secondary outcomes. |
| Measurement Identify primary statistics used to answer clinical questions (You need to list the actual tests done). | The inflammatory bowel syndrome severity scoring system (IBS-SSS) and IBS Global Improvement scale were used to assess improvement in the severity of symptoms in diarrhea-predominant IBS. | Fecal and blood samples were obtained from participants from which outcomes of fecal microbiota components and metabolites were assessed. Change in the waist-to-hip ratio, in addition to the waist area fat mass, was also observed for change. | The outcome measurements after interventions were either primary or secondary and included the diarrhea duration in days, daily dressing number needed, severity of abdominal pain based on visual analog pain score, consistency of stool based on the Bristol stool scale, and any experienced adverse outcome. | PedsQL, PRAS-ASD, and parent-selected target symptoms were measures used to assess the outcome of the probiotic/placebo treatment. |
| Data Analysis Statistical orQualitative findings (You need to enter the actual numbers determined by the statistical tests or qualitative data). | After eight weeks of intervention, it was noted that the probiotic led to a statistically significant improvement from baseline in the IBS symptom severity (165.8 +/- 78.9 IBS-SSS score), pain severity, and quality of life in comparison to placebo (105+/-60.2 IBS-SSS). Regarding the IBS-GIS, the group that received the probiotic also reported improved symptoms in contrast to the group receiving the placebo both at the fourth (p=0.04) and twelfth (p=0.003) week of intervention. However, there was no difference in the occurrence of adverse events between the two study groups. | When compared with placebo, probiotic use resulted in altered gut microbiota by increasing some, such as Lactobacillus and Akkermansia, and reducing some, such as Paraprevotella. Metabolites such as glycoursodeoxycholic acid were also reduced by probiotic use. This caused a negative correlation between waist-hip ratio and waist fat mass thus improving clinical obesity-related outcomes. | Probiotic treatment reduced the diarrhea duration (p<.01), the number of daily dressings (p<.01), the degree of pain in the abdomen (p<.01), and the consistency of stool (p<.01). Furthermore, no adverse events were reported. | From the 77% retention rate of participants, there were no statistically significant outcomes in PedsQL and PRAS-ASD despite probiotic use showing greater Lactobacillus retention and better improvement as compared to placebo. |
| Findings and Recommendations General findings and recommendations of the research | The multi-strain probiotic was found to significantly improve IBS symptoms and thus is beneficial to the patient in addition to its safety and good tolerance. | The altered gut microorganism contributing to the protective gut barrier and metabolites caused a negative correlation between waist-hip ratio and waist fat mass, thus improving clinical obesity-related outcomes. | Probiotic treatment greatly reduces the severity of AAD and thus should be considered in individuals with this condition. | The retaining of Lactobacillus with probiotic use leads to improvement and is thus beneficial. |
| Appraisal and Study Quality Describe the general worth of this research to practice. What are the strengths and limitations of the study? What are the risks associated with the implementation of the suggested practices or processes detailed in the research? What is the feasibility of use in your practice? | Findings were statistically significant and thus can be feasible in clinical practice due to the demonstrated benefits with support from other similar studies. | The study demonstrates the role of gut microbiota in improving weight management in overweight management and hence can be considered as one of the weight reduction strategies. | Statistically significant findings from this study may justify the use of probiotic AAD. For broader coverage, more studies may be required, especially in the other age groups. | Since the findings from this study were generally statistically insignificant, there is a need to do a repeat study using a larger study group to present more accurate findings. |
| Key findings | Improved IBS symptoms from probiotic use. | Probiotic use alters the gut microbiota and its metabolism, contributing to weight reduction and improving gastrointestinal barrier function. | There was an improvement in symptoms and shortened duration of illness with probiotic use in AAD. | Probiotics, when used in ASD with gastrointestinal symptoms, led to abundant Lactobacillus, which may contribute to symptom and quality of life improvement. |
| Outcomes | The probiotic is safe and beneficial in its use for the management of IBS-D. | Probiotic consumption can successfully lead to clinical benefits of controlling energy metabolism and body fat mass in overweight adult individuals. | Probiotics safely and effectively treat antibiotic-associated diarrhea. | The findings were not statistically significant. Thus, conclusions on the safety and effectiveness of probiotics in ASD cannot be sufficiently drawn. |
| General Notes/Comments | This study has remarkable data with clear evidence of the correlation between probiotic use and improvement in IBS-D symptoms. | There are a few lapses in this study that should be considered in future studies. | An experimental study can be considered in the future to further support the findings. | This study still has gaps due to the small sample size. A larger study population can be considered in the future to represent a true picture of the findings. |
Part 3B: Critical Appraisal of Research
The above evaluation table summarized the findings of individual evidence-based sources that addressed various sections of my clinical inquiry that were in the form of a PICOT question. Two sources were high-level evidence sources that included systematic reviews while the other sources ranked lower in the hierarchy. Systematic reviews have the findings more validity because systematic reviews consolidate the findings from various relevant and valid sources and organize their findings by following a systematic process (Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt, 2018). From the above evaluation, I can conclude that probiotic use improves systems of irritable bowel symptoms. They enhance weight reduction by alteration in microbiota and their metabolism. Probiotics use among patients with antibiotics-associated diarrhea also alleviates these symptoms. Gastrointestinal symptoms also improve among children with gastrointestinal symptoms in atrial septal defects. No study evaluated the contraindications for the use of these agents among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.
The best practice, therefore, would include prescribing antibiotics among patients with gastrointestinal symptoms, especially diarrhea, associated with disturbance in the balance between microbiota and pathogenic bacteria in the gut. The decision to prescribe these agents or not is solely made based on clinical reasoning and decision-making based on appropriate evaluations. Best practice may consider probiotic use among patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhea, irritable bowel symptoms,
Conclusion
The above best practice statement is backed up by evaluated data from reliable and scholarly sources that are recent and thus credible. Further studies should evaluate when not to use these agents in the indicated patients. Otherwise, they can be considered safe and effective. Data on their efficacies were not evaluated.
References
Arnold, L. E., Luna, R. A., Williams, K., Chan, J., Parker, R. A., Wu, Q., Hollway, J. A., Jeffs, A., Lu, F., Coury, D. L., Hayes, C., &Savidge, T. (2019). Probiotics for gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life in autism: A placebo-controlled pilot trial. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, 29(9), 659–669. https://doi.org/10.1089/cap.2018.0156
Hibberd, A. A., Yde, C. C., Ziegler, M. L., Honoré, A. H., Saarinen, M. T., Lahtinen, S., Stahl, B., Jensen, H. M., &Stenman, L. K. (2019). Probiotic or synbiotic alters the gut microbiota and metabolism in a randomized controlled trial of weight management in overweight adults. Beneficial Microbes, 10(2), 121–135. https://doi.org/10.3920/BM2018.0028
Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2018). Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice (4th ed.). Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Skrzydto-Radomańska, B., Prozorow-Król, B., Cichoż-Lach, H., Majsiak, E., Bierła, J. B., Kanarek, E., Sowińska, A., &Cukrowska, B. (2021). The effectiveness and safety of multi-strain probiotic preparation in patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: A randomized controlled study. Nutrients, 13(3), 756. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13030756
Rui, X., & Ma, S.-X. (2020). A retrospective study of probiotics for the treatment of children with antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Medicine, 99(23), e20631. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000020631
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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A 500-word essay usually spans about one page if single-spaced or two pages when double-spaced, with standard margins and a 12-point font size.
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Certainly, to see the structure and flow of a well-written essay, you might want to take a look at a student’s writing guide that provides insights and examples.
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Formatting guidelines typically involve using a legible font like Times New Roman or Arial, size 12, with double-spacing and one-inch margins on all sides. Check any specific requirements your instructor might have provided.
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For a personal essay, focus on a singular event or characteristic, ensuring your ideas are clear and you reflect on the significance of the subject matter. Use concise language and powerful imagery to maximize impact.
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Depending on your familiarity with the topic and writing proficiency, allocate anywhere from one to several hours for planning, drafting, and revising to ensure a well-presented essay.
