Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses

Protecting human subjects is essential throughout the data collection process.

In healthcare research, subjects or participants are considered to be more

vulnerable because of alterations in health status. Dilemmas can arise when

advocating for the rights of individuals conflicts with the need to promote

nursing science. It is not uncommon for nurses to find themselves caring for

individuals involved in research studies; therefore, it is helpful for nurses to

understand some basic safeguards.

Prior to data collection, informed consent must be obtained. One of the

fundamental responsibilities of researchers is to make sure each person under-

stands the nature of the research project and the implications of participating.

Potential research participants should not be given too much hope that the

intervention will benefit them because this could influence their decisions to

participate. Individuals, or the proxy decision makers, must be able to freely

decide whether to participate. They must be assured that they can withdraw

from the study at any time without fear of reprisal. If nurses determine that

potential subjects are not fully informed or lack understanding, they have an

obligation to notify primary investigators. If proxy decision makers are involved

in informed consent, nurses should determine that decisions are in the best

interest of participants (Dunn et al., 2013).

Sometimes research studies raise sensitive issues among nurses who feel

protective of their patients. Nurses may be reluctant to identify and recruit

subjects or may collect only partial data. For example, Moody and McMillan

(2002) reported that hospice nurses shielded their patients

from a study even though the study was supported by the

hospice administrative staff. Only 60 patient–caregiver

dyads were enrolled despite there being 475 eligible

patients. It was noted that many nurses believed that

patients who were in the final stage of life should not

be disturbed.

RCTs also create dilemmas for nurses because subjects

are randomized into treatment and control groups. Nurses

10.5 Keeping It Ethical

FYI

One of the fundamental responsibilities of

researchers is to make sure each person un-

derstands the nature of the research project

and the implications of participating. Potential

research participants should not be given

too much hope that the intervention will

benefit them because this could influence

their decisions to participate.

At the end of this section, you will be able to:

‹ Discuss the importance of protecting human subjects during data collection

278 CHAPTER 10 Collecting Evidence