Abstract
Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015:
Background: In only a few studies have improved nurse-patient care outcomes associated with continuing education programs been assessed. Provided that professional development is among the most commonly used strategy to improve quality of patient care in health care settings, it is vital to test their efficacy, to identify their key components and to test their effects on direct patient outcomes. Challenges exist in the design of studies to measure these effects. Situational and research factors contribute to the success of implementation of cost and burden conscious approaches to measurement which may impact sustainability. Triangulation, the use of more than one approach to the investigation of a research question in order to enhance confidence in the findings is essential to this process. The idea of triangulation has been extended beyond its conventional association with research methods and designs to include four forms: data triangulation; investigator triangulation; theoretical triangulation; and methodological triangulation.
Setting: A northeastern state correctional system comprised of 12 jails and prisons participated over 3 years. Four hundred forty-three nurses (RNs 288; LPNs 138; 17 APRNs; including per diem nurses) who participated worked in 12 facilities (2-jails; 10 prisons; 1-women's facility) serving over 18,000 incarcerated persons. Medical and psychiatric care is provided through a managed care contract. Institutional Review Board approval (# H13-307) was granted by the University of Connecticut Office for Research Compliance.
Methods: A case study approach is utilized to provide an example of the mixed methods design and implementation of a state-wide correctional nurse competency program aligning with the ANA Correctional Nurse Scope and Standards of Practice. This one of a kind competency program provided a unique mobile simulation learning laboratory and required that both workforce and organizational issues be addressed. Reliability and validity of clinical assessment tools adapted for the correctional health environment was a necessary step in this process. This followed competency definition, role clarification activities and needs assessments. Triangulation strategies were mapped for implementation on a timeline. Repeated measures of educational data, observational data, interviews and secondary data sources were utilized to examine the multi-level effects.
Results: All four forms of triangulation were utilized in addition to other research strategies to assure reliable and valid measurement. Multiple forms of data were sampled at different time points over a three-year period of time from the twelve facilities. Challenges of this case study research included need for repeat training, attention to data collection and quality, requests for supplemental data and support for performance of the research team. Attention to these challenges and the use of multiple forms of triangulation over time contributed to the validity of the findings for this state-wide project.
Significance: To date, no correctional nurse competency programming or evaluation measures or strategies for these programs have been tested or publishedin the US. Documentation of the efficacy of this HRSA (grant # D11HP22212) funded program provides the basis for replication.
Sigma Membership
Mu
Lead Author Affiliation
University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
Action Research, Triangulation, Correctional Nurse Competencies
Recommended Citation
Shelton, Deborah and Reagan, Louise A., "A case study of a multi-method evaluation design: Correctional nurse competency program" (2016). Convention. 54.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/convention/2015/posters_2015/54
Conference Name
43rd Biennial Convention
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Conference Year
2015
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.
All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
A case study of a multi-method evaluation design: Correctional nurse competency program
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Session presented on Monday, November 9, 2015 and Tuesday, November 10, 2015:
Background: In only a few studies have improved nurse-patient care outcomes associated with continuing education programs been assessed. Provided that professional development is among the most commonly used strategy to improve quality of patient care in health care settings, it is vital to test their efficacy, to identify their key components and to test their effects on direct patient outcomes. Challenges exist in the design of studies to measure these effects. Situational and research factors contribute to the success of implementation of cost and burden conscious approaches to measurement which may impact sustainability. Triangulation, the use of more than one approach to the investigation of a research question in order to enhance confidence in the findings is essential to this process. The idea of triangulation has been extended beyond its conventional association with research methods and designs to include four forms: data triangulation; investigator triangulation; theoretical triangulation; and methodological triangulation.
Setting: A northeastern state correctional system comprised of 12 jails and prisons participated over 3 years. Four hundred forty-three nurses (RNs 288; LPNs 138; 17 APRNs; including per diem nurses) who participated worked in 12 facilities (2-jails; 10 prisons; 1-women's facility) serving over 18,000 incarcerated persons. Medical and psychiatric care is provided through a managed care contract. Institutional Review Board approval (# H13-307) was granted by the University of Connecticut Office for Research Compliance.
Methods: A case study approach is utilized to provide an example of the mixed methods design and implementation of a state-wide correctional nurse competency program aligning with the ANA Correctional Nurse Scope and Standards of Practice. This one of a kind competency program provided a unique mobile simulation learning laboratory and required that both workforce and organizational issues be addressed. Reliability and validity of clinical assessment tools adapted for the correctional health environment was a necessary step in this process. This followed competency definition, role clarification activities and needs assessments. Triangulation strategies were mapped for implementation on a timeline. Repeated measures of educational data, observational data, interviews and secondary data sources were utilized to examine the multi-level effects.
Results: All four forms of triangulation were utilized in addition to other research strategies to assure reliable and valid measurement. Multiple forms of data were sampled at different time points over a three-year period of time from the twelve facilities. Challenges of this case study research included need for repeat training, attention to data collection and quality, requests for supplemental data and support for performance of the research team. Attention to these challenges and the use of multiple forms of triangulation over time contributed to the validity of the findings for this state-wide project.
Significance: To date, no correctional nurse competency programming or evaluation measures or strategies for these programs have been tested or publishedin the US. Documentation of the efficacy of this HRSA (grant # D11HP22212) funded program provides the basis for replication.
Description
43rd Biennial Convention 2015 Theme: Serve Locally, Transform Regionally, Lead Globally.