The 2nd edition of this AJN Book of the Year introduces readers to each step in the nursing research process, and shows them how to read, summarize, critique, and use the findings in clinical practice. The authors, both published nurse researchers,employ a consistent style and a nursing-oriented approach that features highlights from published research studies and critique questions to make this subject easy to understand, and enjoyable to read about. Features: * Provides examples from real research studies (almost all new to this edition). * Offers increased coverage of the correlation between research and nursing practice, emphasis on qualitative research, and discussions of research outcomes. * Contains comprehensive critique guidelines for quantitative and qualitative research. * Details the steps of the research utilization process to help readers use research findings in practice. * Features decision trees (algorithms) of designs for descriptive, correlational, experimental, and quasi-experimental studies to help readers identify types of designs in published studies and determine their appropriateness. * Contains chapter objectives, highlighted critique questions, extensive reference lists at the end of each chapter, and a glossary of relevant terms.