NR528 Assignment Module 4: Literature Matrix and Synthesis

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Course

NR528 Leading and Managing Evidence-based Change in Nursing

Assignment Overview

For this assignment, students will use the clinical or practice question developed in NR520 and conduct a literature search for articles that answer and/or explain the clinical or practice question.

Students will conduct a literature search in relevant databases and complete a literature matrix table.

Students will also provide a short summary synthesizing their evidence.

Assignment Instructions

  1. Review the clinical/practice question developed in NR520. You may choose to modify or refine the clinical/practice question.

  2. Conduct a literature search in databases appropriate for the identified clinical/practice question.

How to Approach This Assignment
1️⃣ Refine Your Clinical/Practice Question

Revisit your PICOT question and ensure it is:

  • Clear

  • Focused

  • Measurable

  • Feasible for your practice setting

Make sure it includes:

  • P – Population

  • I – Intervention

  • C – Comparison (if applicable)

  • O – Outcome

  • T – Timeframe

If needed, narrow your population or outcome to improve search precision.

2️⃣ Conduct a Structured Literature Search
Recommended Databases:
  • CINAHL

  • PubMed/MEDLINE

  • Cochrane Library

  • Joanna Briggs Institute

  • ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health

Use:

  • Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT)

  • MeSH terms

  • Filters (last 5 years, peer-reviewed, English, adult population, etc.)

Document:

  • Search terms used

  • Number of results

  • Inclusion and exclusion criteria

3️⃣ Select High-Quality Evidence

Prioritize:

  • Systematic reviews

  • Meta-analyses

  • Randomized controlled trials (RCTs)

  • Evidence-based practice guidelines

  • High-level quasi-experimental studies

Avoid:

  • Opinion pieces

  • Editorials

  • Non-peer-reviewed sources

4️⃣ Complete the Literature Matrix Table

Your matrix should include:

  • Author(s) & Year

  • Study Purpose

  • Design

  • Sample/Setting

  • Intervention

  • Outcomes

  • Key Findings

  • Level of Evidence

  • Strengths & Limitations

Keep entries concise but specific.

5️⃣ Write the Evidence Synthesis Summary

This is not an article-by-article summary.

Instead:

  • Identify themes across studies

  • Compare and contrast findings

  • Note consistencies or contradictions

  • Identify gaps in evidence

  • Explain how evidence supports your intervention

Your synthesis should answer:

  • What does the evidence consistently show?

  • Is the intervention effective?

  • Are results statistically and clinically significant?

  • What best practice recommendations emerge?

Key Concepts to Emphasize

  • Evidence hierarchy

  • Appraisal of research quality

  • Clinical significance vs. statistical significance

  • Consistency of findings

  • Translation of evidence into practice

Click below to access the sample solution (PDF)