Critical Analysis: Two Articles on Nursing Practices

This report presents a critical analysis of two nursing research articles, focusing on the challenges in medication administration and drug preparation for patients with feeding tubes. The first article utilizes qualitative data and focus group interviews to explore nurses' perceptions of medication administration challenges, identifying issues related to medications, collaboration, resources, skills, and patient factors. The second article employs a quantitative, pre/post intervention study to evaluate an intervention program aimed at reducing drug preparation errors in patients with feeding tubes. The analysis compares the methodologies, results, and trustworthiness of both studies, highlighting the importance of both qualitative and quantitative research methods in healthcare. The report concludes by emphasizing the need for training, intervention programs, and improved practices to enhance patient care and organizational effectiveness. The report also discusses the validity and reliability of the data, and the significance of training programs and interventions for the improvement of healthcare practices, with emphasis on the importance of accurate drug preparation and administration.

Critiquing of Two
Articles Given

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
Critical Analysis of the Two Articles.....................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Nursing can be defined as the profession in the health and social care sector, the main
focus of which is on the care to be provided to individuals, families and communities so that they
could maintain their proper health and well being to live a healthy and prosperous life. The main
focus of this assignment will be on the critical analysis of the two different articles chosen for the
completion of this assignment. These two assignments will relate to the same topic but the
different will be in there data used as such as the one will contain the use of qualitative data and
the second one will have quantitative data. On the very basis of this information, the critical
analysis of the data provided in both of these two articles will be done. This assignment will
provide with the aims, methods, results and conclusion of these two articles along with the
discussion of credibility, conformability, dependability of both the type of research methods.
MAIN BODY
Critical Analysis of the Two Articles
Article 1st: Focus Group Discussions of Registered Nurses’ Perceptions
of Challenges in the Medication Administration Process
Aim of the Study: To Describe Registered Nurses’
Perceptions Related to Challenges in the MA Process.
Methods Used in the Study:
In the first assignment, the use of qualitative data and descriptive study with the help of
focus group interviews has been done (Lune and Berg, 2016). In addition to this, for the data
collection in order to complete the following research, the use of interviews has been done in
order to know the perception of participants and also to explore about the reasons of their
answers to do deep analysis of the situation (Härkänen Blignaut and Vehviläinen‐Julkunen,
2018). Data Analysis has also been done in this qualitative research paper in three phases. As in
the first phase, the data was read out by the first author of the research paper many times in order
to understand and to make sure that it is having the necessary information for the readers as well
as related also. In the next phase, the data presented in the research paper is organised properly
and in a sequence so that it could make some sense to the readers and in the last phase of data
analysis, the third author of the research paper will check out the structure and the related data as
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well whether it is properly arranged or not in accordance to the requirements of the research
paper (Vishnubhatla and et. al., 2016).
Results of the Study:
After completing the study on the research topic, there were several findings which were
related to the strengths and weaknesses of the research as well. Some were the positive points
and the others were not so. The study came up with five challenges in Medical Administration
Process based on the participants which were the RN's with the experience of at least one year
working as RN in the organisation in order to make the completion of the research (Chang and
et. al., 2016). The challenges were related to the medications, collaboration in between health
care professionals resources and the working environment, skills and education and the patient
related factors. As such, it was related to the upcoming of new medications which creates
problem for medical practitioners due to lack of knowledge and lack of availability of substitutes
which makes difficult for medical experts to make choice of the medicines to be provided in a
specific condition. The nature of every individual is different from that of others and also their
understanding is different so due to this change, the ways of different health care professionals is
different to treat their patients. This impacts upon the coordination and interpersonal relation in
between different health care professionals. Sometimes due to workload also and communicating
with many patients, they were not able to remember about the condition of every patient and
everything mixes up (Huerta and et. al., 2016). So the working environment and availability of
resources also impacts. Lack of specific skills and education required for the job role is also a
challenge as in the case of lack of knowledge, it will not be possible for RN to provide the
patients with proper treatment. The continuous upgradation in the technology is also threat
because of resistance of employees to change in organisations and sometimes the patient related
factors such as their aggressiveness, dementia and other problems creates difficult for RN to deal
with them.
Trustworthiness of Research: The research has been conducted keeping into mind all the
aspects that could impact upon the authenticity, reliability and validity of the data used in the
research. In other words, the research has been conducted in an ethical way and does not violates
the norms and values of the research in which it is needed to be done.
Conclusion of the Study:
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There are many errors and omissions which have been made in the case of medical
organisations which creates issues for the patients. The Medical Administration Process of these
organisations is also becoming very complex and vulnerable for the patients because of lack of
knowledge, availability of proper equipments and many more challenges being faced by the
companies impacting negatively on the health and well being of patients. So these organisations
should work upon reducing the challenges and foster the speed of growth and development of
these organisations. Employees should be provided with proper training and equipments so that
they could deal good with the situations of patients and work for the betterment and well being
of their service users.
Article 2nd: More than Just Crushing: A Prospective Pre-Post Intervention Study to Reduce
Drug
Preparation Errors in Patients with Feeding Tubes
Aim of the Study: To Develop
and Evaluate an Intervention Program to Safeguard the Drug
Preparation Process for Patients with Feeding Tubes in Institutions
without these Dedicated Safety Measures.
Methods Used in the Study:
In the following research paper, the use of Quantitative Research Method has been done
(Bryman, 2017) In this research method, the data for the completion of a research is collected
with the help of statistical information, data, figures and many more in order to get an accurate
information about the study and the topic to reach to an end conclusion. In the following
research, it was conducted with the help of prospective, pre/post intervention study on the
Gastroenterological Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and a surgical ward for for oral, maxillofacial
diseases and dental issues (Lohmann and et. al., 2015). At the time of making evaluation of the
drug preparation processes of all the peroral drugs for patients with the help of feeding tubes.
This completion of this research included the use of two wards of a large tertiary care university
hospital with approximately 1900 beds and also 16 full time pharmacists. The error rate was
assumed at 30% before the intervention process and and the error reduction rate was to reduced
to 20% to 24% after the intervention (Risør, Lisby and Sørensen, 2016).
Results of the Study:
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The results of the study included the preparation 988 solid drugs in which 514 were
during the baseline period and 474 during the intervention period. The drug preparation
processes started daily at 07:00 A.M. in the morning shift. But the inappropriate drug preparation
of patients with feeding tubes, especially inappropriate crushing and suspending of drugs with
the modified release formulation. Additionally, the incorrect crushing and suspending of drugs
also impacted upon the preparation of drugs also for the patients as well as they are provided as
antibiotics to the patients. However, these errors could be avoided with the help of intervention
programmes which can be tailored to the electronic patient documentation systems in the
hospitals or unit close systems. It helped in reducing the costs as now there is less requirement to
keep an eye on the working and less requirement of labour as well.
Validity of research: Different sources are used by researcher in order to collect
information. Investigator used various valid resources to get data in order to complete the
investigation which increases the validity of research and provide a base for the researchers for
the future research.
Conclusion of the Study:
The following research concludes about the inappropriate drug preparation impacting
upon the health and well being of the patients in the hospitals. The main reason behind this was
related to the wrong crushing and suspending of drugs creating many problems not only for the
health care practitioners but also for the patients as well. In order to overcome, the needed
improvement to be made is in the drug prescription which is not provided appropriate impacting
negatively and also giving negative results (Huynh and et. al., 2016).
Critical Analysis
In both of the two research papers, the use of different methods of collecting data is done
but the use of each type of research method have their own importance and relevance with the
topic provided. It depends upon the requirement of the research which helps the researcher to
make use of the type of research method.
In case of more theoretical information is needed than in this case, qualitative research
method will be appropriate (Silverman, 2016). With the help of this method, it will be possible
for the researcher to present arguments in relation to the context explained, also in depth analysis
is possible by making use of this method and deep information about the main issue in the
research can be provided that will help the readers in knowing about the exact issue discussed in
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the research (Amankwaa, 2016). The first article have data from valid sources which creates the
validity and reliability of data used. The authentic information used in the research by the
researcher makes it possible for the readers to make use of data for long period of time and also
for conducting future research. One more benefit of using qualitative data in the first article is
related to getting deep knowledge, reasons behind the data provided in the research which makes
clear the reader about the authenticity and reliability of the research in every manner.
Article 2 in which the use of quantitative research method has been done is also suitable
for this research as it provides the statistical information about the research (Brannen, 2017).
Accurate information about respondents, medicines, beds, wards is provided in the research so
that practical experimentation of results of research can be done. But the use of this type of data
in the research is not valid for a long time because of rapid changes in technology and the
differentiation in providing services to patients will differentiate the results from that which was
first received (Nardi, 2018).
However, the information provided by both of these two articles are are related to each
other. The difference is in the use of data. Both of these tow papers explains about the use of
training programs and intervention programs for the development and growth of organisations in
this sector. As looking on the current measures it is not possible to provide the patients with good
services due to many reason such lack of knowledge, lack of proper prescription and many more
which impacts negatively on the working of organisations. But with the help of provided
measures, it will be possible to eradicate the issues faced by medical practitioners to the clinical
issues.
CONCLUSION
From the above assignment, the conclusion has been drawn about the importance of care,
training and intervention programs in the organisation with the help of which it will be possible
to develop good ways of working and provide the patients with right treatment according to their
need and condition.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Amankwaa, L. (2016). CREATING PROTOCOLS FOR TRUSTWORTHINESS IN
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH. Journal of Cultural Diversity. 23(3).
Brannen, J. (2017). Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research. Routledge.
Bryman, A. (2017). Quantitative and qualitative research: further reflections on their integration.
In Mixing methods: Qualitative and quantitative research (pp. 57-78). Routledge.
Chang, H. Y. & et. al., (2016). Impact of prescription drug monitoring programs and pill mill
laws on high-risk opioid prescribers: a comparative interrupted time series analysis.
Drug and alcohol dependence. 165. 1-8.
Härkänen, M., Blignaut, A., & Vehviläinen‐Julkunen, K. (2018). Focus group discussions of
registered nurses’ perceptions of challenges in the medication administration process.
Nursing & health sciences. 20(4). 431-437. (quali)
Huerta, S. & et. al., (2016). Biological mesh implants for abdominal hernia repair: US Food and
Drug Administration approval process and systematic review of its efficacy. JAMA
surgery. 151(4). 374-381.
Huynh, N. & et. al., (2016). Assessment of the nurse medication administration workflow
process. Journal of healthcare engineering2016.
Lohmann, K. & et. al., (2015). More than just crushing: a prospective pre‐post intervention study
to reduce drug preparation errors in patients with feeding tubes. Journal of clinical
pharmacy and therapeutics. 40(2). 220-225. (quanti)
Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2016). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Pearson
Higher Ed.
Nardi, P. M. (2018). Doing survey research: A guide to quantitative methods. Routledge.
Risør, B. W., Lisby, M., & Sørensen, J. (2016). An automated medication system reduces errors
in the medication administration process: results from a Danish hospital study. Eur J
Hosp Pharm. 23(4). 189-196.
Silverman, D. (Ed.). (2016). Qualitative research. Sage.
Vishnubhatla, S. K. V. & et. al., (2016). U.S. Patent No. 9,501,624. Washington, DC: U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office.
Online
Nursing Definitions. 2019. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.icn.ch/nursing-policy/nursing-definitions>
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