Guidelines for Quality Research Proposal

Give specific examples about a nursing phenomena where quality research is conducted. Then select the best research in the area. Discuss the philosophy, theory and research related to quality outcomes in that area. Example: the nursing phenomenon of selfcare (e.g. OREM) is undergirded by the philosophy that quality outcomes increase with ability to do appropriate postoperative self-care.

The middle range nursing theory by Jean Johnson indicates that affective and psychomotor knowledge and preparation prior to threatening events such as surgery increases cooperation and decreases anxiety about those events. For the quality outcome of decreased anxiety to occur, however, the nurse in practice, must apply the key elements of the middle range theory (e.g. preoperative teaching is specific to and congruent with the actual experience of the patient).

Nursing research by Dr. Carol Lindeman on preoperative teaching verified the relationship between philosophy and the theory with concrete data indicating that persons prepared with patient education have less pain medication used, fewer side effects of anesthesia and even greater lung capacity.