Responding to Poor-Quality Care During Research in Nursing Homes

Abstract

For nurse researchers, responding appropriately to resident abuse is straightforward: The abuse must be reported. However, responding to care that is of poor quality—where care practices are problematic but do not meet the definition of reportable abuse—is not so straightforward. Decision making may be influenced by ethical and professional principles, as well as self-interest to complete a research project. The purpose of this article is to provoke a dialogue about a dilemma faced by many researchers conducting research in long-term care: responding to poor-quality care that does not meet the state's definition of resident abuse. We will accomplish this by providing a real-life situation faced by a novice researcher conducting her first funded research project, identifying some of the important considerations and possible responses by nurse researchers. Optimally, nurse researchers will develop a plan for responding to poor care before beginning the study.