Offering: Nursing Statistics

Titles: Nursing Statistics: Method and Concepts for Professional Nurses

By Dr. Roberto Bencivenga

Preface

The common reaction from nursing students to the idea of having to learn statistics is, shall we say, not enthusiastic. I am convinced that it need not be so and in this book I have tried to identify those aspects of statistics that nurses really need, and to explain them in a way that fits their culture and expectations, with some humour added for good measure. The electronic medium provided by MuchLearning makes this approach much easier to realize, and so I hope that you, the learner, will not just survive the experience, but actually make it part of your professional routine.

This printed version of the book is, in a way, just a summary of the information that you will find at the MuchLearning website (www.muchlearning.org), a condensed version that you can easily carry with you and consult whenever needed. But make sure that you use it in conjunction with the web experience; otherwise you will miss a great part of what learning statistics can offer.

I don't know whether I will succeed in changing your mind about how accessible statistics is, but one thing I do know for sure. This book, just like any other, is not perfect and will never be, but can be improved constantly, in particular if you help us improve it through your suggestions and critiques. So, if you see any aspects of it, both printed and online, that can be made better, more attractive, more appealing and more useful, let us know. Our contact information is both here and at www.muchlearning.org and we can take advantage of the electronic medium to implement many improvements within a very short time.

So, open up to the possibilities and make statistics your friend. Your profession will thank you for it.

Acknowledgments

If I had to list all the people who have contributed to this book in some way, I would need a phone-book-size tome, so, with apologies to everyone who has helped me get where I am, I will limit my explicit expressions of thanks to those who have made a direct contribution to this book.

MuchLearning.org and RKI for offering me the opportunity to publish it in a way that is suitable for the 21st century.

Red Deer College for the sabbatical leave during which I put flesh on the skeleton of this book, for the opportunity to use it with my students and, of course, for keeping me on their payroll for many years!

Mike Kouritzin and Surrey Kim for the leadership they provide to MuchLearning and for the vision they have shared with me, a vision that sustains my efforts at strengthening the project ever more.

The rest of the staff at RKI, for making me feel welcome from day one in a young and promising organization that defies all stereotypes of computer experts!
The colleagues, friends and daughter who have gifted their voices for the audio lectures: Alma, Alma (there's two of them), Anwen, Brenda, Danica, Elva, Kathy, Serena, and Sheila. Would you ever have dreamed that your presence on the Internet would be in part related to stats? I am honoured by your contribution.

The many students who have provided me with ideas, suggestions, critique and other input that have made and will make this book better and better. In particular, thanks to Tasha Thibault for her many contributions, which I hope will continue and will be imitated by others.

And for the two people who must be wondering why I have not thanked them yet: that's because I saved you for last.

This book would not have been possible without Nick Salyzyn, the LaTeX genius. His expertise, positive outlook, incredible patience and work ethic have allowed me to learn what I needed to know about the LaTeX language used by MuchLearning and to solve all technical difficulties that we encountered in the writing, editing and improving of the book. While he may not consider himself a professional teacher, he has quickly become one of my role models in my dealings with students. I hope to continue to enjoy his assistance and friendship for years to come.

And last, but certainly not least, this book is dedicated to Loretta, my wife, who puts up with my foibles, my impossible expectations and my bouts of frustration while fulfilling her duties as the best physician in her field. Her professional example and her spousal love combine to make me the receiver of an incredible gift, namely being her husband.

All these people have provided support and help. All that is still unsatisfactory in this book is due to my limitations, but I am working on it...

Roberto Bencivenga
Instructor in Mathematics and Statistics
Red Deer College