Provide an example of how the t-test and ANOVA could be used to compare means within a nursing work environment and discuss the appropriateness of using the t-test versus ANOVA.

ANOVA stands for analysis of variance. Its main importance is to determine the significance of outcomes from an event. It is done by making a comparison between different categories. For example, two patients getting home-care services from two different home-care providers may want to compare costs.

Student's t-tests are used to compare the averages of two groups. These two groups could have some common characteristics. For example, doing a test to confirm the number of days it would take to treat malaria using the same drug in a child and in an adult.

ANOVA is used in scenarios where comparison is being done for more than two groups. On the other hand, a T-test is used for comparisons between two data groups. T-tests are more appropriate than ANOVA when the only aim of a research is to make a comparison on averages and when all the assumptions required to use it are achieved.