A 4 page paper evaluating two nursing studies. The proposal under consideration is to implement a primary nurse organizational structure in the skilled nursing facility (SNF). The two studies examined here indicate that patients fare better with greater direct care by RNs and that RNs are less likely to leave their profession when they can maintain an adequate degree of direct patient care. Bibliography lists 7 sources.
Name of Research Paper File: CC6_KS-MAprob2a.rtf
Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
The proposal under consideration is to implement a primary nurse organizational structure in the skilled nursing facility (SNF). The two studies
examined here indicate that patients fare better with greater direct care by RNs and that RNs are less likely to leave their profession when they can maintain an adequate degree
of direct patient care. A Longitudinal Analysis of Nursing Home Outcomes In "A Longitudinal Analysis of Nursing Home Outcomes," Porell, Caro, Silva and
Monane (1998) compared outcomes and resident attributes among Medicaid residents of Massachusetts nursing homes between 1991 and 1994. This mixed method (i.e., quantitative as well as qualitative measures) studys
independent variables include tenure of residence; demography of residents and their diagnostic attributes; and nurse staffing attributes at the facility level (Porell, et al., 1998). Four facility-wide outcomes constitute
the dependent variables The researchers findings are that "The estimated parameters for resident demographic and diagnostic attributes showed a great deal of construct validity with respect to clinical
expectations regarding risk factors for adverse outcomes" (Porell, et al., 1998, p. 835). It appears to be generalizable to the entire nursing home industry, establishing its external validity as
well. This study also appears to be sound scientifically. Its primary means of data analysis is statistical; the methods by which the
researchers gathered data consisted of random sample selection from the Management Minutes Questionnaire (MMQ). The questionnaire is used in Massachusetts for case-mix Medicaid reimbursement to nursing homes (Porell, et
al., 1998), and is updated quarterly by nursing home staff. This study does not appear to replicate any former efforts, but its design, data manipulation and conclusions are sound.