Qualitative research methodologies: an overview, Part I

In these days of budget constraints and recession, PACU nurses will have to demonstrate that their nursing interventions are economical and effective. Their nursing practice needs to be shaped by scientific knowledge. The purpose of this article is to present an overview of qualitative research methods that can be used by PACU nurses. The methods described and discussed in this article include phenomenology, ethnography, grounded theory, and case studies. Part II of this article, which will be published in a subsequent issue of this journal, will present research problems that are of interest and the ways in which PACU nurses can use the qualitative research designs discussed in part I of the article.