Critiquing research instruments for postanesthesia studies.

A recent series of articles instructed PACU nurses on steps in developing pencil-and-paper instruments for research studies. What questions should PACU nurses ask when considering the use of existing pencil-and-paper instruments for use in research studies? The purpose of this article is to present nine steps in critiquing existing instrument before conducting research studies. Included are ethical considerations when using instruments and a checklist to assist PACU nurses in critiquing existing instruments.