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Posted by: walte Nov 20 2009, 10:17 PM

I've been sick. And, no matter how hard I try, nothing is making any sense right now. I've been looking at a paper for a friend and these just don't look right.

1. What affect is nursing research having on your practice?

2. With the knowledge I have acquired about research and how it is affecting my own practice, and looking at problems in a different light, I am beginning to ask questions concerning events that arise at work about impoving patient care and outcomes.

3. It would be intereting to find out whether or not there has been an improvement with the increased weight issues due to the change in how meal times are implemented or other factors that have affected the residents.

I would have guessed that the first two should be effect and effecting. But, everything is just swimming in my head right now. I've checked 4 books and the words just aren't making sense right now.

Any help is appreciated.


Diane

Posted by: Tinker Grey Nov 20 2009, 10:36 PM

I believe "affect" is correct for all those cases. Affect, here, means to have an influence. (Or, confusingly enough, to have an effect.)

In general, effect is a noun. It is a verb when one means that something causes something else, e.g., to effect change.

HTH

Posted by: Freond Nov 21 2009, 01:31 PM

Oops, look at the first sentence again, Tinker. It's a noun, so it should be "effect." Only #2 and #3 are correct.

Looking at whether the word is used as a verb or noun usually works, but beware that both of these words have exceptions. Tinker already mentioned the first one.

EFFECT: –verb (used with object)
10. to produce as an effect; bring about; accomplish; make happen: The new machines finally effected the transition to computerized accounting last spring.

AFFECT: -noun 4. Psychology. feeling or emotion.
5. Psychiatry. an expressed or observed emotional response: Restricted, flat, or blunted affect may be a symptom of mental illness, especially schizophrenia.

Posted by: Tinker Grey Nov 21 2009, 03:45 PM

You are correct, kind sir. The first one should be effect.