This upcoming task will ideally, but not necessarily, be focused on a topic you are interested in as a possible topic for the project you will conduct. The purpose of this project is not for you to draft parts of the project you will conduct. The purpose is for you to demonstrate how to formulate a data analysis plan that will fulfill the purpose of a practice change project. Here is the outline of part of the content of a proposal for a hypothetical DNP project with a focus on statistical analysis. DNP projects are a type of translational research – translating previous research into practice. For this task, you should use a previously published project or research study as the basis for the methodology of a hypothetical project. When this is done in an actual project, the previous research methodology is adopted to the specific setting, patients, and time frame for the project. Cite the research study that you are using as a basis for your proposal Use this outline to organize your contribution this week. 

• State the purpose of the project. Cite the research that is the basis for the proposal.
• Transform the purpose statement into a PICOT-formatted project question (See the Gallagher & Melnyk, 2019, editorial for additional information cited under the Instructional Resources for this week.).
  • P = Population – who will be included in the project and how many groups will be studied in the project.
  • I = Intervention – the treatment or intervention that will be manipulated or changed during the implementation phase of the project.
  • C = Comparison – the usual treatment or intervention used prior to the project.
  • O = Outcome – the characteristic that will be measured to determine the effect of the intervention.
    • Find or identify a data collection instrument to measure this variable and give the name of the instrument.
    • Indicate what type of variable this instrument collects (categorical or continuous) and what level of measurement it is (nominal, ordinal, interval, variable).
  • T = Time: Total time for data collection from the start of data collection to the end. 
• Data analysis – Descriptive statistics:
  • Identify the descriptive statistics that will be used to organize and summarize the data collected that will fulfill the purpose of the study – choose one of the descriptive statistics listed below and give the rationale for your choice based on the type of data produced by the data collection instrument:
    • Measure of central tendency with measure of variability and range.
    • Frequency with percentages.
• Describe the most effective method to use for illustrating the descriptive statistics with a graph or histogram.
• Data analysis – inferential statistic:
  • Name the most appropriate inferential statistic to use to fulfill the purpose of the study:
  • Give the rationale for your choice based on the purpose statement, PICO-formatted project question, and the type of data produced by the data collection instrument.
  • What are the assumptions for this test?
• Write the null and alternative hypotheses for the inferential statistic in words and in an equation using the same designations of the population, variables, and time that were used in the purpose statement and PICOT-formatted project question.
• How will the effect size of the findings be determined? Give the rationale for your choice based on the inferential test used.

Find a published research study on a topic that you could use for your DNP project that reported ORs or RRs(NO meta-analysis)

• Give the purpose/objective/aim of the study exactly as it is written in the study.
  • What is the population in the study?
  • Identify the variables in the study that you will focus on. Designate the variables as an IV and DV. What is the level of measurement of the variables (nominal, ordinal, interval, or ratio), and type (categorical or continuous)?
• If one or more hypotheses were stated in the article for the OR or RR, give the one you will focus on here. Give the stated hypothesis as an equation. Write the other hypothesis (the Ho or Ha that was not given) in words and an equation. If a hypothesis was not stated, then restate the purpose/objective/aim as a null hypothesis in words and equation format. Do this for both a null and alternative hypothesis. Again, focus on only two sets of variables tested by an OR or RR. Use the format in the handout attached to the announcement for this week.
• What is the assumption for ORs or RRs (cite the source where you find it)? Is it met in this study? Provide information given in the study that can be used to determine whether each assumption is or is not met. What information is not given?
• What alpha level (level of significance) was used?
• Give the descriptive statistics for at least two risk factors and related outcome(s) analyzed by ORs or RRs.
• Give the values for the ORs or RRs and p-value for the risk factors named used for the descriptive statistics.
• Use the p-value rule to determine whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
• What type of error is possible based on the decision about the null hypothesis? List the common reason(s) for this possible error and identify which of them applies to this study.
• If CIs are reported for the ORs or RRs, use the CI rule to determine whether to reject or fail to reject the null hypothesis.
• Do the risk factors increase or decrease the risk of the outcome or event? Explain your answer.
• Convert the OR or RR to a percentage and interpret the magnitude of the OR or RR.
• Determine the clinical significance of the ORs or RRs by using your knowledge, critical thinking, and experience with your patients and setting, would you incorporate the variables into your practice, for example, adding them to your assessment in order to identify patients at risk for the outcome or event? Is your evaluation of the clinical significance of the findings consistent with the statistical significance for the findings? Explain your rationale.

Reply
 

Please see attached file for instructions:

• Review the resources and clinical skills in the PMHNP Clinical Skills List document. It is recommended that you print out this document to serve as a guide throughout your practicum. 
• Review the “Developing SMART Goals” resource on how to develop goals and objectives that follow the SMART framework.
• Review the resources on nursing competencies and nursing theory, and consider how these inform your practice.
• Download the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to complete this Assignment.  

The Assignment

Use the PMHNP Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form to complete the following:   

• Rate yourself according to your confidence level performing the skills identified on the Clinical Skills Self-Assessment Form.  
• Based on your ratings, summarize your strengths and opportunities for improvement.   
• Based on your self-assessment and theory of nursing practice, develop 3–4 measurable goals and objectives for this practicum experience. Include them on the designated area of the form.   

By Day 7 of Week 1