Applying Research Skills

Eunice

5 hours ago

Applying Research Skills

In modern healthcare practice, the ability to conduct focused, scholarly research is an essential skill for nurses. Medical professionals who use evidence-based practices can handle the changing needs of various communities. One of the biggest issues in the present day is caring for an aging population, which calls for solutions that involve expert advice and different areas of help: Applying Research Skills.

Through this paper, I use research skills to investigate geriatric care, focusing on the proper selection, study and combination of scholarly works. An annotated bibliography is part of the project, giving researchers a base for studying geriatric healthcare in more detail.

Topic Identification

The aging population is a critical healthcare issue with growing global and national relevance. With increased life expectancy and the advancement of medical technology, a larger segment of the population is living into their 70s, 80s, and beyond. Older patients tend to experience additional chronic health problems, loss of mental functions, and a lower quality of life, leading to them needing more complex care and better coordination than younger groups of patients (Reynolds et al., 2022). When demand for healthcare rises, it is important to develop geriatric-focused care to make sure dignity, autonomy, and a good quality of life are upheld.

Professionally, this issue holds significant implications for nursing practice. Nurses regularly care for the elderly by managing their medications, evaluating their abilities, supporting relatives, and encouraging them to stay in their homes. More people requiring medical attention leads to a rise in hospitalizations, crowdedness in long-term care facilities, and demand for home healthcare. It is important for nurses to have knowledge related to ethics and discharge arrangements that address the needs of older adults.

My interest in this topic stems from both academic and clinical exposure. While working at the community clinic, I realized that older adults experience many obstacles—especially those who live alone and manage several illnesses by themselves. A patient with dementia and limited mobility was often admitted to the hospital because of preventable errors made in their medications. This experience piqued my interest in improving systems for the care of elders.

Research and Article Selection Process

To gather evidence on this topic, I used the Capella University Library’s CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PubMed, and Academic Search Premier databases. I searched for currently published peer-reviewed articles about interdisciplinary care, interventions for caregivers, and age-friendly changes to healthcare systems. The terms “aging population,” “geriatric care,” “interdisciplinary geriatric care,” “caregiver training,” “cognitive decline in elderly,” and “age-friendly healthcare” were used.

The operators “AND” and “OR” assisted in narrowing the articles, for example, “geriatric care AND multidisciplinary teams” and “elderly care OR aging population AND caregiver training. “I applied filters to limit results to full-text, peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2020 and 2025. I excluded non-academic publications, opinion pieces, or studies not directly related to healthcare delivery or outcomes in older adults. The criteria also included relevance to nursing practice or system-level interventions in primary, acute, or long-term care settings.

The research process was methodical but not without challenges. Initially, searches on “aging population” yielded overly broad results, many of which lacked clinical relevance. Adjusting keywords and using more specific terms like “cognitive function in the elderly” helped me retrieve targeted studies. Ultimately, I selected three scholarly articles that provide diverse perspectives—focusing on interdisciplinary collaboration, caregiver training, and age-friendly system reform.

Each article was verified as peer-reviewed and published by reputable journals. Authors had affiliations with academic institutions or clinical research centers, lending further credibility. All three articles remain highly relevant as they reflect current trends and needs in geriatric care.

Credibility and Relevance of Sources

The three sources selected meet rigorous standards of academic credibility and clinical relevance. First, each article is published in peer-reviewed journals (Healthcare and Journal of Clinical Nursing), with clear disclosure of methodology, sample size, and limitations. The articles were published between 2022 and 2024, ensuring contemporary relevance. To begin with, Albarqi (2024) explores the effectiveness of multidisciplinary teams in enhancing the quality of life in older adults.

This is directly applicable to nursing roles within integrated care teams. Second, Sanjuán et al. (2022) provide evidence on the effectiveness of caregiver training, an area where nurses often serve as educators and advocates. Lastly, Zisberg et al. (2024) offer a policy-level analysis of age-friendly healthcare systems, presenting valuable insights for healthcare administrators and advanced practice nurses. Together, these sources offer actionable, evidence-based interventions applicable across care settings.

Annotated Bibliography

Albarqi, M. N. (2024). Assessing the impact of multidisciplinary collaboration on quality of life in older patients receiving primary care: Cross-sectional study. Healthcare, 12(13), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131258

Albarqi (2024) conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating the impact of multidisciplinary collaboration on the quality of life in elderly patients receiving primary care. The study enrolled 400 individuals aged 65 and above and assessed their results with the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. The study showed that patients supported by a care team of physicians, nurses, physiotherapists and social workers were more satisfied, visited hospitals less often and saw their psychological health improve.

The study points out that group medical care is effective in treating the chronic health conditions of older people. The article is highly valuable since it shows how nurses can cooperate and integrate thorough geriatric assessment tools in places like primary care. It helps provide more evidence that using different forms of medicine is beneficial for elderly health.

Sanjuán, M., Navarro, E., & Calero, M. D. (2022). Caregiver training: Evidence of its effectiveness for cognitive and functional improvement in older adults. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 32(5-6). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16301

Sanjuán et al. (2022) explored the effectiveness of structured caregiver training programs in improving cognitive and functional outcomes in older adults. The study involved a randomized controlled trial with 180 caregiver-elderly dyads over a six-month period. Caregivers were trained in daily activity planning, communication strategies, and behavioral management. Results showed significant improvement in cognitive scores among elderly patients and reduced caregiver burden.

The authors concluded that caregiver training not only supports patient health but also enhances caregiver well-being and care continuity. This article is essential for nursing practice as it emphasizes the importance of family-centered education. It highlights the nurse’s role in training informal caregivers, especially in-home care and dementia management, reinforcing the need for evidence-based caregiver support initiatives.

Zisberg, A., Rayan‐Gharra, N., Danial‐Saad, A., Rogozinski, A., Fraiman, P., & Segel‐Karpas, D. (2024). Age‐friendly healthcare: An evolutionary concept analysis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(67). https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.17457

Zisberg et al. (2024) conducted a concept analysis to refine the definition and implementation of “age-friendly healthcare.” Through a review of existing literature and clinical guidelines, the study identified four core principles: safety, effectiveness, respect, and personalization of care. The authors explained how age-friendly healthcare started as a concept and grew into a set of guidelines used in policymaking, hospital design, and medical practice.

According to the research, it is necessary to focus on unique, active care for the elderly using regular checks of abilities, mental health, and changes in the home setting. This article explains how healthcare institutions can coordinate their services to address older adults’ needs. The field helps by ensuring that clinical work in nursing connects with changes within the hospital to create long-lasting, elderly-friendly care.

Summary of Learning and Application

Completing this annotated bibliography has strengthened my ability to identify and analyze peer-reviewed research in support of professional nursing decisions. Now, I know how to efficiently look for information, improve my search word choices, and make sure sources are accurate. Through this procedure, it was found that cancer care improves many times when new information is carefully matched to local practice gaps, most importantly among elderly patients.

Moving forward, I plan to rely on annotated bibliographies to organize and synthesize the research I need to do for future classes, projects, and quality improvement plans. For instance, when proposing interventions to reduce readmissions among older adults, I now feel confident in gathering, evaluating, and presenting scholarly support. The skills acquired during this assessment will help me maintain clinical excellence, engage in evidence-based practice, and contribute meaningfully to interdisciplinary care planning.

References

Albarqi, M. N. (2024). Assessing the impact of multidisciplinary collaboration on quality of life in older patients receiving primary care: Cross-sectional study. Healthcare, 12(13), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131258

Reynolds, C. F., Jeste, D. V., Sachdev, P. S., & Blazer, D. G. (2022). Mental health care for older adults: Recent advances and new directions in clinical practice and research. World Psychiatry, 21(3), 336–363. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20996

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Question

Assessment 2: Applying Research Skills

Create a written assessment, including an annotated bibliography section, to document your research on a healthcare problem or an issue faced by current healthcare organizations.

Introduction
In your professional life, you will need to find credible evidence to support your decisions and plans of action. You will want to keep abreast of best practices to help your organization adapt to the ever-changing healthcare environment. Being adept at research helps you find the information you need. This assessment gives you practice with that skill by having you research a healthcare problem or issue faced by current healthcare organizations.

Overview
You will select a current healthcare problem or issue from the provided options for this assessment. Research your topic, and develop a written assessment, which includes an annotated bibliography to document your resources.

Reminder: You will use your selected problem or issue again in upcoming assessments. The purpose of this assessment is to ensure you know how to research topics and find credible references to use in your assessments. Part of the assessment is an annotated bibliography.

The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of research references, along with key information about each; the detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about your chosen problem or issue.

Prepare
Conduct research in the Capella library to find a total of three scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles in relation to a selected healthcare problem or issue presented in the Assessment 02 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] resource. You must select your healthcare-related issue or problem from the topic areas presented in this resource.

Important Note: Conduct a library search as needed. Review the BSN Nursing Program Library Research Guide for assistance. Be sure to review journal articles published within the past three to five years.

Write Your Paper
Write a 3–5 page paper in which you include the following:

Topic Identification
- Select one of the healthcare problems or issues presented in the Assessment 02 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] resource (ATTACHED). Write a brief overview of the healthcare problem or issue. In your overview:
Summarize the healthcare problem or issue, including describing its professional relevance.
- Describe your interest in the problem or issue.
- Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.
Discussion of Research
- Discuss your research and selection process for each of the three journal articles you have chosen to include in your annotated bibliography.
- Describe your process of applying library research skills to identify the journal articles relevant to the healthcare problem or issue you are researching.
  - Identify the keywords you used to select the articles.
  - Describe the criteria you used to select the resources, including the names of the databases you used.
  - What was the process like to locate relevant articles?
    Applying Research Skills
- Assess the credibility of the information sources.
  - Determine whether each resource is from an academic, peer-reviewed journal.
  - Determine whether the publication is current (published within the last 3–5 years).
  - Determine whether information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.
- Assess the relevance of the information sources.
  - Explain how the healthcare problem or issue is addressed in each source.
  - Discuss what kind of contribution each resource provides.
Annotated Bibliography
- Summarize each of the three current academic, peer-reviewed journal articles you chose, using the annotated bibliography organizational format. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with key information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. In your annotated bibliography:
  - List each full reference in APA format, followed immediately by its annotation.
    - Present your three current, annotated references in alphabetical order, according to the reference citation.
    - Double-space each reference and format it with a hanging indent.
    - Provide the full APA reference citation, including the author, date, title, publisher or publication, and any additional information required by APA style.
  - Write the annotation (summary) for each citation in paragraph form, using approximately 150 words (or 1–3 paragraphs) for each citation. Make sure to cite the article in your summary. Include the following components for each annotation:
    - Identify the purpose of the article.
    - Summarize the article.
    - Include the conclusions and findings of the article.
Summary
- In a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper, summarize what you learned from the process of developing the annotated bibliography.

Academic Requirements
Your academic writing is expected to conform to the following requirements:

Writing: Produce text with minimal grammar, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
Sources: Integrate into text appropriate use of current scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style. Use the Evidence and APA guidelines provided. Cite the reference in its summary.
Formatting: Include a title page and reference page, Times New Roman, 12 point.
Length: Complete no more than 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, in addition to the title page and reference page.
References: Although you are citing your three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles within the Annotated Bibliography section of this paper, be sure to also list your citations on a reference page at the end of your paper, along with any other resources you may have included.

Example assessment: You may use the Assessment 2 Example [PDF] to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like.

Submit your paper as an attached Microsoft Word document.

Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

Competency 1: Apply information literacy and library research skills to obtain scholarly information in the field of healthcare.
- Summarize a healthcare problem or issue, including describing its professional relevance.
- Describe the process for selecting academic peer-reviewed journal articles relevant to a healthcare problem or issue being researched.
- Summarize what was learned from developing an annotated bibliography as it relates to the topic and the ability to use the annotated bibliography process for future assessments.
Competency 2: Apply scholarly information through critical thinking to solve problems in the field of healthcare.
- Assess the credibility and relevance of information sources.
- Summarize academic peer-reviewed journal articles using the annotated bibliography organizational format.
Competency 5: Write for a specific audience, in an appropriate tone and style, in accordance with Capella writing standards.
- Produce text with minimal grammatical, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
- Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.

Scoring Guide

Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.

Client’s Notes:

IMPORTANT: Please focus topic: Aging Population and geriatric care

Notes:

NO AI USE
NO Falsifying of Sources/References/Citations