This article is an integrated review whose key objective is to give a summary of findings related to errors made by novice nurses when making clinical decisions. Some of the common error types that novice nurses commit include patient falls, delay in treatment, and medication errors. Hence, the three significant themes that the article focuses on are forms of errors, their causes, and finally, the probable interventions. The research mainly targets educators in an attempt to make changes in training so that novice nurses can learn how to avoid common errors. Recent literature provided information on the types and causes of errors, while probable interventions were based on the discussion between nursing student and faculty.
One of the key strengths noted about the article is that it gives extensive introduction and background sections. The sections are not only comprehensive, but they also enable a reader to clearly understand the context of the paper. The sections indicate the current phenomenon of the nursing shortage and the need to hire graduate or novice nurses (Saintsing, Gibson & Pennington, 2011). The importance of the integrated review and its benefits to educators and the nursing field can clearly be drawn from the background information presented. The rationale of conducting the research is well-developed, which makes the article and the research presented credible.
Despite presenting exhaustive background information, a key weakness noted about the study is with respect to the organization and structure. A research study should be presented in such a way that different sections are clearly presented. In this case, it is recommendable to have a separate literature review section that clearly gives the findings and assertions given by other authors or past research studies. This article has combined the literature review section with the introduction. Hence, the reader may find it quite challenging to distinguish between the two. For comprehensibility and free flow, it is recommendable to have a subheading for literature review followed by prose presentation of the findings obtained from past research studies on the subject or topic under investigation.
In addition to explaining the reasons for conducting the research and its potential benefits, the authors have given clearly articulated the methodology utilized. A credible research study should present a coherent methodology as well as any expected limitations. The methodology used by researchers in the present study entailed conducted a literature search from search engines and online libraries.
A complex search of topics in specific search engines was the search strategy utilized. Search terms used included new nurses, graduate nurses, novice nurses, and other terms used to define errors. The articles chosen for the study revolved around errors or graduate nurses’ experience (Saintsing, et al, 2011). A key limitation identified by the authors is the fact that information concerning probable interventions to help in minimizing errors could not be obtained from the search engine. This is why they proposed for such information to be centered on the discussion between nursing student and faculty.
To increase the validity of the information presented, the authors have backed their assertions using current information sources. Most of the sources used are less than 10 years old, which is a clear indication that they are reliable. For instance, information on the types of errors has been supported using information sources published between the year 2002 and 2007 (Saintsing, et al, 2011). This shows that the information sources are recent and should therefore, be considered reliable. This is a key strength of the research study presented in the article. Despite presenting the three principal types of errors, medical errors, delays in treatment, and patient falls, the authors go a step further to give additional errors such as failure to follow policies and procedures, and inadequate communication with health professionals.
The authors have managed to present a clear summary of the research findings at the conclusion section. From the section, the reader can clearly identify the primary types of errors as well as their causes. For instance, it is evident that a complex matrix of factors tends to be the causes of errors for graduate nurses (Saintsing, et al, 2011). Other essential themes emerging from the subject of errors committed by novice nurses include critical thinking and time management, which are mutually dependent. The total number of articles evaluated for this research was 75, which is a reliable number. An integrated review that uses less than 50 sources may be deemed to be incredible. In this case, the sources used were more than fifty, which implies that the research study presented in credible.
Generally, the research study achieved its objective or purpose. As stated at the introductory section, the objective of the research was to establish the various types of errors committed by novice students and the causes of such errors. By the end of the study, the reader can identify the errors as well as probable causes. The research study is applicable to the nursing field, which is prone to medical errors and other error types. Nursing institutions can also use the study to identify specific areas that students need to learn so as to reduce errors during the initial years of their nursing career.
Reference
Saintsing, D., Gibson, L. M., & Pennington, A. (2011) The novice nurse and
Clinical decision-making: how to avoid errors. Journal of Nursing Management, 19, 354-359
