The application of statistics and the interpretation of data play a critical role in health care. More importantly, the analysis of big data sets provides valuable insights that can improve both working conditions and patient outcomes. This paper will help you understand the role of big data sets as well as develop an understanding of key statistical concepts and their relevance in the health care field.

Read the article “Big Data Can Help Prepare Nurses and Improve Patient Outcomes by Improving Quality, Safety, and Outcomes," located in Topic 1 Resources.

Reflect on the article and consider the implications of big data in your field of health care (or your line of work). Then, write a 750-1,000-word paper addressing the following:

Summarize Key Points from the Article

1. Briefly summarize the main ideas discussed in the article, focusing on how big data contributes to improving health care quality, safety, leadership, and patient outcomes. Provide specific examples mentioned in the article. 

Discuss Big Data in Your Work Environment

1. Reflect on how big data could or does impact your current, past, or future work environment. Provide a specific personal example of its application in your field. Consider areas such as patient care, resource allocation, or staff performance. (Note: These examples can be hypothetical; the goal is for you to reflect on how you see big data playing a role in your career.) 
2. Explain how statistical data use can highlight safety measures, enhance health promotion, or support leadership strategies.

Evaluate the Broader Implications

1. Discuss the potential benefits and challenges of using big data in health care. For example, how can it improve decision-making, enhance patient safety, or streamline operations? What ethical or practical challenges might arise?
2. Identify an example of each level of measurement: nominal, ordinal, interval, ratio, and explain their relevance to the data discussed in the article. (You might consider patient demographics as an example of nominal data, survey responses or rankings for ordinal data, temperature measurements for interval data, and other measurable data for ratio data.)

Define Basic Statistical Terms

1. As you discuss statistics, define two basic statistical terms that appear in your analysis. This will demonstrate your understanding and reinforce your discussion points. 

General Requirements

Use at least one additional peer-reviewed article from the GCU Library or other scholarly sources to support your perspective. Ensure that all sources are published within the last 5 years.

Provide proper citations in APA format for all resources used, including the article provided and any additional references.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. 

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion. 

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.