NURS 352 introduces scholarship and research in the UMGC RN-to-BSN program. It teaches you to read research critically and use evidence to improve nursing practice.
UMGC describes it as a study of approaches to scholarly practice, focusing on qualitative and quantitative methods to advance nursing knowledge. The goal is to critically appraise current evidence-based research findings. Students find the new vocabulary of research designs, sampling and bias the biggest hurdle, especially after years in clinical practice.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) |
| Code and title | NURS 352, Introduction to Nursing Scholarship |
| Credits | 3 |
| Level | Undergraduate, upper level |
| Who can take it | Open only to students majoring in Nursing for Registered Nurses |
| Prerequisite or corequisite | NURS 322 |
| Credit rule | Credit for only one of NURS 352 or NURS 410 |
What NURS 352 Covers
| Area in UMGC's description | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Qualitative and quantitative methods | Understanding how different designs answer different questions |
| Critical appraisal of research | Judging whether a study is trustworthy and useful |
| Appraising research reports | Reading each section of a report with purpose |
| Legal and ethical conduct, protecting human subjects | Consent, privacy and fair treatment of participants |
| Health equity in clinical research | Who is included, who is left out and why that matters |
| Clinical search strategy | Building a search that finds relevant evidence |
| Scholarly inquiry questions and quality improvement | Forming a question about a practice issue |
Key Concepts Explained
Qualitative and Quantitative Designs
Quantitative studies measure and compare numbers, such as outcomes between groups. Qualitative studies explore experiences and meanings, often through interviews. Neither is better overall; each fits a different question.
Invented illustration: To ask whether a falls program reduced falls, a quantitative design counting events is suitable. To ask how patients feel about the program, interviews are suitable. A good appraisal states which question the study asked and whether the design fits.
Clinical Search Strategy
A search strategy turns a question into key terms, synonyms and limits. Record the databases you used, the terms and filters, and how many results you screened, so another reader could repeat it.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
Use the instructions and rubric in your UMGC class. The table describes kinds of work suggested by the course description, not an official list.
| Work type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Article critique | Appraising design, sample, methods and findings | Use a checklist, then write a balanced evaluation |
| Search strategy exercise | Finding relevant evidence efficiently | Document terms, databases and limits |
| Inquiry question for practice | Framing a researchable issue | State the issue, population, intervention and outcome clearly |
A Repeatable Appraisal Routine
Using the same routine for every article makes appraisal faster and fairer. Begin with the question and design, then look at the sample, how data were collected, how results were analyzed and what limits the authors admit. End with a short judgment on whether the findings could be used in practice.
- Question and purpose: is it clear and answerable?
- Design and sample: does the design fit the question, and who was included?
- Methods and ethics: were participants protected and measures sound?
- Findings and limits: do the conclusions follow from the results?
- Use in practice: would the findings apply to your setting?
A Worked Walk-Through
This walk-through uses invented details to show the thinking, not a real study.
- Practice issue: frequent missed doses on a unit.
- Question: in adult inpatients, does a barcode check reduce missed doses compared with usual practice?
- Search: key terms for medication errors, barcode scanning and inpatients, with synonyms and a date limit.
- Appraisal: a small single-site study has encouraging results but limited generalisability.
- Judgment: promising, but a pilot with measurement is a sensible first step.
How to Prepare Before Each Assignment
Read the rubric first and underline each verb, such as appraise, explain or generate. Then collect your articles and print or save your appraisal checklist.
Fill the checklist while you read, not after, so your notes stay accurate. Since UMGC describes activities including a clinical search strategy and an inquiry question, keep your search records neat from the first day.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Summarizing instead of appraising. Judge strengths and limits, with reasons.
- Research jargon. Keep a short glossary of design terms.
- Weak search records. Note terms and filters as you go.
- Ignoring ethics and equity. The course description names both.
Study Tips for NURS 352
- Use the same appraisal checklist for every article.
- Read the abstract, then the methods, before the results.
- Write one sentence on how each study could change practice.
- Keep a log of search terms from the start.
How We Help with NURS 352
Send the prompt, rubric and the article or topic. A nursing writer can prepare a model appraisal, review your search strategy or explain a research term. See our evidence-based practice in nursing guide.
GradeEssays is independent of the University of Maryland Global Campus. Our work is a study and reference aid; complete and submit your own work under UMGC's academic integrity policy. We cannot promise a grade. Orders are written from scratch, plagiarism-checked, include free revisions within the scope of your original request and are refunded in full if late.
Build a Research Appraisal You Can Trust
Share the prompt, rubric and articles. A nursing writer prepares a model appraisal or edits your own draft.
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists NURS 352 as a 3-credit course.
UMGC lists NURS 322 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
No. UMGC says students may receive credit for only one of NURS 352 or NURS 410.
Yes. UMGC lists legal and ethical conduct in protecting human subjects and the impact of clinical research on health equity.
A documented plan of search terms, databases and limits used to find evidence. UMGC lists generating one among the course activities.
No. We provide model appraisals, editing and tutoring only, and you submit your own work.