Research Critique, Part 1
Kathleen J. Good
Grand Canyon University: NRS 433
October 19, 2014

Problem Statement In 2010, after the earthquake that struck Haiti, thousands of nurses and healthcare workers traveled to Haiti to volunteer to help with relief efforts. In the year and a half after the earthquake, when looking through peer-reviewed literature, it was revealed that “all of the publications are anecdotal in nature” and “there was no original research using scientific methods that systematically explore volunteers’ experiences. In addition, none of the publications specifically addressed the issues faced by nurses caring for children. This is where this study being discussed saw a gap in knowledge. “Research that focuses on the pediatric population in disasters is generally lacking” (p. 242). Worldwide, children comprise a huge population, so knowing how to care for them, especially in disaster relief, is important. “This study sought to fill part of the knowledge gap about nurse volunteers who care for children in disaster situations.” The authors of this study point out that filling this gap in knowledge is important because “it takes a scientific approach to nurses’ experiences and will help inform nurses who consider volunteering in future humanitarian missions” (p. 243). In a grander scheme, it also gives aid agencies, such as the Red Cross, more information on how to treat children post-disaster.
Purpose and Research Questions Clearly stated, “The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of nurse volunteers caring for children after the Haiti earthquake in January 2010” (p. 242). The question this study attempted to answer was, “What were the experiences of the nurse volunteers who cared for children after the 2010 Haiti earthquake?” The purpose and research question were very specifically related to the problem, as the question