Final answer:
Teaching has been effective if students recognize that the focus of the nursing researcher role is data collection and analysis, aimed at improving patient outcomes through scholarly inquiry and evidence-based practice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nursing instructor determines that teaching has been effective when the students identify data collection and analysis as the focus of the nursing researcher role. A nursing researcher primarily engages in systematic investigation, interpretation, and solution seeking of problems in nursing care. They employ rigorous methods to collect and analyze data, advancing the science of nursing through scholarly inquiry. Nurses in research roles might also evaluate the effectiveness of health services and interventions, contributing to evidence-based practice. Their work typically does not involve direct patient care activities like medication administration or providing dialysis treatments; instead, their focus is on generating new knowledge that can improve patient outcomes.