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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes
2. Identify research needs
   • Identify opportunities for research through reflection on experience and outcomes of own nursing practice
   • Work with professional colleagues in relation to systemic change and areas for collaborative research
   • Identify and analyse internal and external factors that impact on the research process and the application of potential research outcomes
   • Select a focus for research and develop objectives with clear links to workplace needs
3. Research nursing trends and best practice
   • Develop and document a research plan that includes clear information about objectives and methodologies
   • Assess and select research strategies suited to areas of focus
   • Access and explore information about current, emerging and innovative ideas and trends in nursing practice
   • Source and collate evidence-based information about nursing best practice
4. Analyse researched information
   • Compare best practice evidence to current nursing practice and determine potential for development and change in own workplace
   • Assess the strength, relevance, reliability and currency of information gathered by research in the context of the organisation’s current nursing practice
   • Identify and analyse specific ways in which researched information may be used or adapted for workplace improvement
   • Assess the feasibility, benefits and risks associated with researched information and its potential use
   • Develop substantiated positions and ideasfrom research and analysis
5. Report on research
   • Test and discuss positions developed from research through collaboration with colleagues
   • Develop reports for relevant personnel using language and format appropriate to audience, purpose and context
   • Incorporate reasoned argument and substantiated evidence into reporting
   • Present research findings according to organisation standards and review processes

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

planned, conducted and used at least 2 research projects to contribute to the continuous improvement of nursing practice at a systemic or organisational level in at least 1 workplace.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

ways in which own practice informs research

processes for engaging others in the identification of research needs

internal and external factors that potentially impact research and its application:

approval frameworks

organisation policies and procedures

resource constraints

health policy frameworks

national health priorities

features and formats of research plans

research strategies, how they are implemented and their application for different research objectives:

qualitative

quantitative

evidence-based information – what it is, what it isn’t and how it is developed and used in healthcare

information sources for research in nursing practice, including:

existing research and literature

public and private health organisations

organisations in other industries

professional bodies

nurse practitioners

clinical nurse specialists

processes that support analysis of information and how to use them, including:

comparing

contrasting

challenging

reflecting

distinguishing relevant from irrelevant

drawing interdisciplinary connections

making links between information and its application to the workplace

report writing, including:

key inclusions in a research report

how to match report format, structure and content to audience and context

techniques for developing and substantiating positions and arguments in writing

use of referencing, and understanding of copyright and plagiarism.

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