A researcher is studying the way that ICU nurses prioritize the charting responsibilities for their 12-hour shift

The researcher happens to discover that nurses are administering medications as close to the ordered times as possible but consistently charting the times at which medications are ordered, not the time they are actually administered, even though that may be two or three hours later. What could the researcher do with this information? (Select all that apply.)
a. The researcher makes the nurse manager aware of the finding, after the study data have all been collected, because this is essentially a medication charting error.
b. Nothing. This is not a focus of the study, and the information must be suppressed.
c. The researcher takes time to educate individual nurses, so that they understand that what they are doing is not honest.
d. The researcher includes the findings in the article, stating that this is a time-saving strategy, since the computer allows charting of meds when ordered (instead of when administered) as a block, saving time.
e. The researcher reports this information under Serendipitous Discoveries in the article that results from the study.


ANS: A, B, E
Serendipity is the accidental discovery of something useful or valuable. During the data collection phase of studies, researchers often become aware of elements or relationships that they had not previously identified. These aspects may be closely related to the study being conducted or have little connection with it. They come from increased awareness and close observation of the study situation. Because the researcher is focused on close observation, other elements in the situation can come into clearer focus and take on new meaning. Serendipitous findings are important to the development of new insights in nursing theory. They can be important for understanding the totality of the phenomenon being examined.
Educating individual nurses is sure to alienate staff. The manager is the logical choice for a person in whom to confide this information. Obviously, this should be communicated as, "Some nurses..." rather than naming names, since the nurses' privacy would be violated by telling their names.

Nursing

You might also like to view...

If a 2-year-old child received a caution on the Denver II, this would indicate that the child

a. attempted but did not successfully complete one of the tasks. b. failed to perform a task that has been achieved by 75%–90% of children the same age. c. failed to perform a task that has been achieved by 100% of children the same age. d. refused to perform one of the critical tasks.

Nursing

What expected outcome would indicate effective management of a client's hypertension?

A. The client has not developed pedal edema. B. There is no evidence of sexual dysfunction. C. There is no indication of target organ damage. D. The client's blood pressure reading is stable at 148/94 mm Hg.

Nursing

When contemplating Erikson's developmental theory, the nurse assesses several elderly clients. Which of the following will have the least difficulty with this task?

A) A client who held his job and work status as the defining feature of his life B) A client who felt success through her children's accomplishments C) A client who maintained a balance between work and home D) A client who planned to really enjoy life once she retired

Nursing

In a true ratio proportion, the product of the means always equals the product of the extremes

Indicate whether the statement is true or false

Nursing