Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, Third Edition

The Problem This Book Solves

For many graduate nursing students and practicing professionals, statistics is a daunting barrier to mastering evidence-based practice. Complex formulas, abstract concepts, and generic examples from other fields make traditional statistics textbooks feel irrelevant and overwhelming. This third edition of Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing directly addresses that gap by presenting statistical methods through the lens of real nursing scenarios, using an interactive, reader-friendly approach that builds confidence and competence.

About Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, Third Edition

Statistics for Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing, Third Edition is a comprehensive textbook designed to teach graduate students and professional nurses the statistical skills essential for interpreting research and applying evidence to clinical practice. Published by Jones & Bartlett Learning in 2022, this edition has been peer-reviewed and course-tested to ensure it meets the learning needs of today’s nursing students. The book emphasizes comprehension through varied instructional strategies—including quizzes, practice problems, and sample data sets—that cater to different learning styles, making it the ideal text for mastering key statistical concepts.

Unlike generic statistics books, this volume focuses exclusively on nursing and healthcare contexts, using examples from clinical research, epidemiology, and quality improvement. It covers both descriptive and inferential statistics, guiding readers from basic concepts through more advanced techniques such as correlation, regression, and hypothesis testing, all within the framework of evidence-based practice.

Who Is This Book For?

This textbook is specifically tailored for:

• Graduate nursing students enrolled in master’s or doctoral programs who need a solid foundation in statistics for research and evidence-based practice courses.
• Professional nurses seeking to enhance their ability to critically appraise research literature and apply findings to patient care.
• Nurse educators and clinical instructors who require a reliable, student-friendly resource for teaching statistics.
• Healthcare researchers and administrators involved in data-driven decision-making and quality improvement projects.
• Anyone preparing for certification exams that require knowledge of biostatistics and research methods.

The book assumes no prior statistical training, making it accessible for beginners while still offering depth for those with some experience.

Inside: What You Will Master

This textbook systematically builds your statistical literacy and practical skills. Here are the core competencies you will develop:

• Descriptive Statistics: How to summarize and visualize data using measures of central tendency, variability, and frequency distributions.
• Probability and Sampling: Understanding the principles of probability, sampling distributions, and the central limit theorem as they apply to nursing research.
• Hypothesis Testing: Step-by-step guidance on formulating null and alternative hypotheses, selecting appropriate tests, and interpreting p-values.
• Parametric and Nonparametric Tests: When to use t-tests, ANOVA, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U, and other common statistical tests with nursing data.
• Correlation and Regression: Analyzing relationships between variables, including simple and multiple linear regression, and logistic regression for binary outcomes.
• Using SPSS for Data Analysis: Hands-on tutorials for entering data, running analyses, and interpreting output from the most widely used statistical software in nursing research.
• Integrating Statistics into Evidence-Based Practice: How to critically appraise statistical findings in published studies, apply them to clinical decisions, and communicate results to interdisciplinary teams.

Each chapter includes practice problems with real data sets and online quizzes to reinforce learning and track progress.

Why Choose This Edition

Most statistics textbooks are written by statisticians for statistics majors—dense, theory-heavy, and filled with examples from agriculture or psychology that feel alien to nursing students. This book is different. It is authored by nursing educators and researchers who understand the specific challenges nurses face when learning statistics. The Third Edition has been refined based on student feedback and classroom testing, resulting in a more intuitive flow and clearer explanations.

Competing texts like Statistics for Nursing Research or Biostatistics for the Health Sciences often lack the interactive elements that make this book stand out: embedded quizzes, downloadable data sets, and step-by-step SPSS guides. The publisher, Jones & Bartlett Learning, is a trusted name in nursing education, ensuring that the content aligns with current academic standards and accreditation requirements. Furthermore, the book’s focus on evidence-based practice means you are not just learning statistics in isolation—you are learning how to use data to improve patient outcomes.

Behind the Book

The authors—MyoungJin Kim, PhD; Caroline Mallory, PhD; and Teresa D. Valerio, PhD—are accomplished nursing scholars with extensive experience in research methodology and statistics education. Dr. Kim and Dr. Mallory have published numerous studies in peer-reviewed nursing journals and have taught statistics to graduate students for over a decade. Their collective expertise ensures that every concept is explained with clarity and relevance to nursing practice.

Jones & Bartlett Learning has been a leading publisher of nursing and healthcare textbooks for more than 30 years. Their commitment to quality is reflected in the rigorous peer-review process that this edition underwent. The Third Edition (2022) incorporates the latest statistical practices and evidence-based frameworks, making it a current and authoritative resource for today’s healthcare environment.

The Bottom Line

Absolutely. If you are a nursing student or professional who needs to master statistics for research, clinical decision-making, or career advancement, this textbook is a wise investment. Its interactive design reduces the intimidation factor, while its nursing-specific focus saves you from wading through irrelevant examples. The inclusion of SPSS tutorials and real-world data sets means you can immediately apply what you learn. Compared to the cost of a single statistics course or the time wasted struggling with a poorly designed textbook, this eBook offers exceptional value.

Graduate programs increasingly require students to demonstrate statistical competency for capstone projects and dissertations. This book provides the foundational knowledge and practical skills to succeed. The positive reviews from both students and instructors confirm its effectiveness as a teaching and learning tool.

Get Your Copy Today

Whether you are preparing for a research course, working on your thesis, or seeking to improve your ability to evaluate clinical evidence, this eBook is your essential companion. The Third Edition from Jones & Bartlett Learning delivers a proven, user-friendly approach that has helped thousands of nursing students conquer statistics. Don’t let a fear of numbers hold back your career—add this indispensable resource to your digital library now and start building the statistical skills that will set you apart as a confident, evidence-based practitioner.