The Benefits of Understanding and Using Statistics in Nursing Practice

Question
Discussion  Statistical tools are used in our everyday lives. Discuss how understanding and using statistics can be beneficial to nursing practice.  2 scholar resources no plagiarism
Answer
1. Introduction
Progress has been made in changing the kind of statistical output that is now available to the nursing community, such as new validated indices that can be used to measure morbidity more effectively and are more likely to be suited for the needs of a particular setting, electronic medical records becoming widely used and enabling the nurse to data mine for formal audit projects, new systems like “Early Warning Scores” that have been developed through statistical methodologies to enable better patient assessment and closer monitoring of dynamic clinical changes, and the continuous development of telemedicine which entails the remote monitoring of vital signs, such as oxygen saturations and pulse, and the application of statistical modeling to predict health care needs and pathology changes. Overtime nurses benefit most from the use of statistics by engaging in the intellectual and professional challenges created by an evidence-based approach to patient care, and by understanding the continuing evolution of both the technological and organic elements of the science of nursing. By moving closer towards an environment where clinical data is being used to create personalized health care pathways, nurses will fulfill the purpose and potential of their skills and so attract respect and remuneration appropriate to the generation and interpretation of sophisticated health care knowledge.
Modern health care is driven by data. By collecting and analyzing data from tests and procedures, and by using that data to develop new methods of care, medical research and practice are becoming more efficient and effective all the time. However, the sheer scope and magnitude of the medical data that needs to be analyzed on a daily basis makes health care a natural home for statistical analysis. Yet modern health care still has an output-based approach that reflects a traditional lack of data to drive the development of nursing as a self-determining profession. The evidence base for contemporary health care practices that nurses would wish to provide is only viable and persuasive if it is recognized that that data is meaningfully interpreted and acted upon. For evidence-based practice to evolve, it is essential that the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use and application of statistics are appreciated by professionals. This is underpinned by the requirement that nurses and midwives should provide care and treatment based on the best available evidence or best practice, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code advises that personal and professional development is informed by reflection, practice, and study. Also, accountability is a key aspect of the NMC Code and involves the need for nurses and midwives to be answerable for their actions and to make others aware of any decisions they have made.
In nursing practice, accurate and reliable data is the key to good patient care. The routine use of statistical methods helps nurses advance in the knowledge of conditions that affect patients and the care that is most effective. Statistics have a distinct place in nursing science; they are used as a method to understand the importance of evidence in practice and to measure the performance of an intervention by using appropriate data. The purpose of this discussion is to define the term “statistics”, provide a rationale for the importance and emphasis placed on the use of statistics in nursing science, and describe the meaning and relevance of selected key statistical methods used in the appraisal of evidence in practice.
1.1 Importance of Statistics in Nursing Practice
In nursing, statistics are used daily to help monitor the progress of patients and to improve their outcome. Many sophisticated tests and procedures have become common in medical care and nursing practice, and these rely on the use of statistics. As healthcare and nursing move further into a digital age, with electronic patient records and large research projects, the habits of the past of not analyzing data fully can no longer be tolerated. Statistics help to allay the natural uncertainties of the human mind and the human body. Many treatments for common diseases have a wide variety of options and outcomes, and it is often impossible to know which will be the best. By using statistics to compare different treatments, it helps realize which is the most effective. Also, statistics will be used to drive changes in patient care using data mining to help identify areas of focus in improving quality of treatment and prophylaxis and by compiling evidence for audits or revalidation. Some nursing staff currently may be involved in such projects as a part of clinical proficiency, but the requirement may soon shift to address minimum statistical abilities. This shows how integral statistics are increasingly becoming to modern nursing practice. However, it is recognized that there is still a need for great cultural and perceptual change in nursing practice. Statistics can be seen to have an intellectual edge over qualitative research. It can also be seen as unnecessary rigor. The culture among certain parts of the nursing peerage (and patients group) may be seen that statistics are cold and heartless and that nursing is about providing holistic care which does not require analysis. These are the methods and attitudes that must be tackled in order to improve nursing care in the present and the future. Residents and colleagues should respect that “real” evidence – not just cases and stories – should be used to help inform and develop nursing practice. Modern nursing is exciting and rewarding because it is a constantly changing and dynamic field. However, change is only successful and efficiency is only increased when such changes are based on an informed and impartial analysis of evidence. It should be the aim of every modern practicing nurse to be up to date and informed about the latest in nursing research and to help lead advancements from the frontline of patient care. Not only will this help with the development of the nursing profession as a whole, but it will enable to truly make a difference to patients and help shape the future of nursing as well as their own professional practice.
1.2 Purpose of the Discussion
The focus on the current needs in Senegal is related to the role of statistics to support evidence-based practice in nursing. However, it is important to understand the global context, whereby healthcare is constantly changing and having to adapt to emerging infectious diseases, new treatments and therapies, and technological developments. With the increasing reliance on technology and the ‘digitalisation’ of healthcare, the amount of data being generated is growing at an unprecedented rate, and this is no different in the field of nursing. However, this data is only useful if it can be accurately interpreted and is meaningful in the context it is used in. This is why there is a continued focus on the use of statistics within a healthcare environment such as nursing. With an increasing demand for quality improvement initiatives in healthcare, it is essential that the way work is informed by data. This is recognised as being important both in the developing field of health information technology and the more established processes of healthcare regulation. However, as will be described in more detail in the next section, the use of statistics in nursing practice is not without its challenges and nurses need to be critical in their interpretation of data and mindful of its limitations so as to ensure that advancements in technology and new statistical techniques genuinely enhance the ability to provide high quality care. In essence, statistics is only one tool to support the decision making process in healthcare, but one that is slowly changing the way in which diagnoses are made, treatments are selected and the monitoring of patients’ progress is conducted. It is fitting, then, that the discussion about how statistics can empower nurses to provide the most effective care will be delivered by an experienced nurse using a statistical programme to drive improvements in patient care.
2. Statistical Tools in Everyday Life
2.1 Examples of Statistical Tools
2.2 How Statistical Tools Impact Decision Making
3. Understanding Statistics in Nursing Practice
3.1 Basic Statistical Concepts
3.2 Statistical Analysis Techniques
3.3 Interpreting Statistical Findings
4. Benefits of Using Statistics in Nursing Practice
4.1 Evidence-Based Practice
4.2 Identifying Trends and Patterns
4.3 Predictive Modeling
4.4 Quality Improvement Initiatives
5. Statistical Resources for Nurses
5.1 Scholarly Journals and Research Databases
5.2 Professional Associations and Organizations
5.3 Continuing Education and Training Opportunities
6. Challenges and Limitations of Statistics in Nursing Practice
6.1 Data Collection Issues
6.2 Statistical Misinterpretation
6.3 Ethical Considerations
7. Conclusion
7.1 Recap of the Benefits of Understanding and Using Statistics in Nursing Practice
7.2 Future Directions for Statistical Applications in Nursing