NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment

NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice

Prof. Name

Date

NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment

Identification of the Practice Issue

My Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) specialty track is Nurse Executive, which focuses on preparing healthcare leaders to ensure that their teams provide safe, high-quality, and evidence-based patient care. The health concern selected for this PICOT question is influenza, a persistent global public health challenge. Despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines, influenza continues to affect millions worldwide each year, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality.

Although annual influenza vaccines are accessible, many individuals either choose not to receive them or simply neglect vaccination, resulting in avoidable infections and hospitalizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2022), approximately 41 million Americans contract influenza annually, leading to around 140,000 hospitalizations and over 120,000 deaths. The most vulnerable populations include young children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with chronic health conditions, all of whom face a higher likelihood of severe complications.

Substantial evidence supports that vaccination is one of the most effective preventive strategies for reducing both the incidence and severity of influenza. Studies indicate that vaccines protect not only individuals but also communities by decreasing viral transmission (Godoy et al., 2018). Consequently, addressing vaccine hesitancy and promoting higher vaccination rates remain vital public health objectives.

Significance of the Practice Issue

Nurses consistently rank as the most trusted healthcare professionals due to their direct and continuous interactions with patients. This trust uniquely positions nurses as key advocates for public health initiatives, including influenza vaccination efforts.

Nurses play a pivotal role in multiple aspects of vaccination, including:

Effective nurse–patient communication is essential for overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Patients who receive comprehensive and transparent explanations about how influenza vaccination prevents severe illness are more inclined to make informed decisions and accept immunization (Keske et al., 2020).

By improving influenza vaccination rates, nurses contribute to safeguarding vulnerable groups, reducing preventable illnesses, enhancing overall population health, and easing the burden on healthcare systems.

Discussion of the PICOT Elements

The PICOT framework provides a systematic approach to developing a focused clinical question.

PICOT Statement (Narrative)

In young adults aged 18–30 years, does receiving the influenza vaccine, compared to remaining unvaccinated, reduce morbidity rates during the peak flu season when guided and supported by nurses?

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2022). Disease burden of flu. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/index.html

Godoy, P., Romero, A., Soldevila, N., Torner, N., Jané, M., Martínez, A., … & Domínguez, A. (2018). Influenza vaccine effectiveness in reducing severe outcomes over six influenza seasons, a case-case analysis, Spain, 2010/11 to 2015/16. Eurosurveillance, 23(43), 1700732. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2018.23.43.1700732

Keske, Ş., Mutters, N. T., Tsioutis, C., & Ergönül, Ö. (2020). Influenza vaccination among infection control teams: A EUCIC survey prior to COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccine, 38(52), 8357–8361. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2020.11.003

Roberts, D. (2018). Influenza vaccines: How effective are they? Evidently Cochrane. https://www.evidentlycochrane.net/influenza-vaccines-how-effective-are-they