NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Answer
The first step before starting to write the NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment.
It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Capella University.
How to Research and Prepare for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Capella University library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the Capella University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list.
You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.
How to Write the Introduction for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.
How to Write the Body for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.
How to Write the In-text Citations for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:
“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”
How to Write the Conclusion for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.
How to Format the Reference List for NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue
The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically, and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication.
Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:
References
Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319
Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.
NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue Instructions
Write a 4–6 page analysis of your previously selected current problem or issue in healthcare, including a proposed solution and possible ethical implications.
Introduction
In your healthcare career, you will be confronted with many problems that demand a solution. By using research skills, you can learn what others are doing and saying about similar problems. Then, you can analyze the problem and the people and systems it affects. You can also examine potential solutions and their ramifications. This assessment allows you to practice this approach with the real-world problem you’ve selected.
Prepare
For this assessment, you will analyze the same current healthcare problem or issue topic area you selected for Assessments 2 and 3. To explore the chosen topic, use the first four topics of the Socratic Problem-Solving Approach for critical thinking.
- Start by defining the healthcare problem or issue based on the selected healthcare topic.
- Provide details about the problems or issues that are part of the chosen topic, and identify causes for the problems or issues.
- Identify at least three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles about the topic you are discussing by using articles you found for Assessment 2 or by searching the Capella library using the BSN Program Library Research Guide.
Write Your Paper
- Use scholarly information to explain a healthcare problem or issue related to your selected topic.
- Cite credible, relevant sources to validate and reinforce the information used to explain the healthcare topic.
- Analyze the problem or issue.
- Describe the setting or context for the problem or issue.
- Describe the reasons that make the problem or issue important to you.
- Identify groups of people affected by the problem or issue.
- Compare and contrast potential solutions for the problem or issue.
- Describe potential solutions.
- Compare and contrast your opinion with other opinions you find in sources from the Capella library.
- Provide the pros and cons for one of the solutions you are proposing.
- Explain how the ethical principles (beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice) apply if your potential solution were implemented.
- Describe what would be necessary to implement the proposed solution.
- Explain what ethical principles need to be considered (beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice) and how they apply if your potential solution were implemented. How would bias need to be considered?
- Provide examples from the literature to support the points you are making.
- Explain how the solution you present will benefit or help to improve your selected topic as it relates to at least one of the Four Spheres of Care:
- Wellness, Disease Prevention.
- Chronic Disease Management.
- Regenerative/Restorative Care.
- Hospice and Palliative Care.
Organize your paper using the following structure and headings:
- Title page. (A separate page.)
- Introduction. (A one-paragraph statement about the purpose of the paper.)
- Identify the elements of the problem, issue, or question.
- Analyze, define, and frame the problem, issue, or question.
- Consider solutions, responses, or answers.
- Choose a solution, response, or answer.
- Implementation of the potential solution.
- Conclusion. (One paragraph.)
Academic Requirements
Your paper should meet the following requirements:
- Length: Include at least 3–5 typed, double-spaced pages, in addition to the title page and reference page.
- Font and font size: Use Times New Roman, 12 point.
- Writing: Produce text with minimal grammar, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
- Sources: Integrate into text appropriate use of scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style.
- References: Use at least three scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles and three in-text citations within the paper. Visit Evidence and APA if needed. Use scholarly or academic peer-reviewed journal articles published during the past 3–5 years that relate to your topic. Visit BSN Program Library Research Guide for help with research.
Example assessment: You may use the Assessment 5 Example [PDF] to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
- Competency 1: Apply information literacy and library research skills to obtain scholarly information in the field of healthcare.
- Use scholarly information to explain a healthcare problem or issue.
- Competency 2: Apply scholarly information through critical thinking to solve problems in the field of healthcare.
- Analyze a healthcare problem or issue.
- Compare and contrast potential solutions for a problem or issue.
- Explain how a presented solution will benefit or help to improve a selected healthcare topic or issue as it relates to at least one of the Four Spheres of Care.
- Competency 3: Apply ethical principles and academic standards to the study of healthcare.
- Explain the ethical principles (beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, and justice) that need to be considered if a potential solution were implemented.
- Competency 5: Write for a specific audience, in an appropriate tone and style, in accordance with Capella writing standards.
- Produce text with minimal grammatical, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
- Integrate into text appropriate use of scholarly sources, evidence, and citation style.
NURS-FPX4000 Assessment 5 Analyzing a Current Healthcare Problem or Issue Example
Current Healthcare Issue Analysis
The aging population is a growing public health concern due to the variety of physical, mental, and social challenges that require proactive care and management. Geriatric care, care of the elderly, is also a healthcare issue of concern due to the need to adjust to elderly-friendly care to address the needs of an increasingly aging population. The focus of elderly care is promoting the health and well-being of older people across the health continuum by preventing and treating illnesses and disabilities (Lin et al., 2024).
Being the focus of this paper, this analysis takes the Socratic problem-solving approach to explore the healthcare issue of the aging population and geriatric care. The analysis explains the healthcare issue, analyzes the setting/context of the issue, its significance, and the people affected by the issue, presents potential solutions for the healthcare issue, explores how ethical principles apply to the potential solution and explains how the solution will benefit the healthcare issue as it relates to one of the spheres of care.
Aging Population and Geriatric Care
The increase in an aging population is a significant public health concern that requires the healthcare system to be ready with elderly care-friendly services to address the rising healthcare needs of this population. As Jakovljevic et al. (2023) note, older adults experience increased healthcare needs due to chronic conditions like diabetes, dementia, and hypertension that require specialized long-term care. However, many healthcare facilities, alongside geriatric specialist shortages, have limited infrastructure or are not adequately equipped for geriatric care.
The increasing aging population also increased the economic burden due to the rising healthcare costs that strain families. Lin et al. (2024) note that aging is associated with social and psychological issues such as loneliness, elder abuse, and inadequate social support networks despite the policy gaps related to programs for the aging population and effective elderly care.
Aging Population and Geriatric Care Analysis
The healthcare issue of an aging population affects different sectors and stakeholders in the healthcare system. For instance, the healthcare system must adjust to cater to the demand for geriatric care with an increasingly aging population that particularly strains the hospitals, primary care services, and long-term care facilities. There is also a growing reliance on family caregivers, who are often not formally trained, which may lead to poor health outcomes among the elderly.
The issue also impacts the economy with increased healthcare costs, rising long-term care expenses, and workforce shortages that exert economic pressure on both families and government programs focused on elderly care services. In addition, social infrastructural factors such as urbanization, smaller family sizes, and shifting cultural norms reduce traditional family-based caregiving, leading to a higher demand for institutional and home-based care services.
Furthermore, studies show that geriatric care is also affected by other healthcare systemic healthcare challenges like the strain from the increased demand for long-term care, workforce shortages, and inadequate care models to address the complex needs of older adults (Aina et al., 2021). Therefore, the issue of an aging population and geriatric care interests me, considering it holds significant professional relevance since addressing the aging population and geriatric care needs is vital in improving health outcomes, reducing healthcare costs, and enhancing the quality of life for older adults. For instance, as healthcare workers, we are expected to advocate for age-friendly care models and adopt a holistic approach to meet the complex needs of the aging population. The groups of people affected by the healthcare issue include the elderly, their families and caregivers, and healthcare workers.
Comparison of Potential Solutions for the Healthcare Issue
Various evidence-based potential solutions can be implemented to address the issue of an aging population and geriatric care. The first possible solution is investing in “aging in place” initiatives. According to Sumner et al. (2021), aging in place is when an elderly person prefers to live in their home with family and the community rather than moving to residential facilities, such as nursing homes or long-term care facilities, as they grow older.
Studies have shown that the desire to remain independent and live at home is the preferred living arrangement among elderly adults (Sumner et al., 2021); investing in initiatives to support aging in place is necessary. These initiatives could develop home modification programs to help older people live independently and educate them on telehealth to increase remote care access.
Another possible solution is providing family/caregiver support for the elderly’s families and caregivers who play a crucial role in supporting and promoting the health and well-being of their seniors. Considering caregiving can be exhausting and cause burnout, supporting them through training, peer-support programs, and education is essential. A study by Vinsur et al. (2023) found that family/caregiver support programs influence the quality of care for the elderly in terms of improving their quality of life.
Both aging-in-place initiatives and caregiver support solutions are cost-effective and feasible since they only require moderate policy adjustments and implementation. However, aging-in-place initiatives aim to support the elderly’s independence and reduce institutional care reliance, while caregiver support aims to reduce the caregiver burden to improve patient outcomes. In addition, aging-in-place initiatives will need individual investments in home modification, making upfront costs a barrier to its implementation. In contrast, caregiver support needs external policy changes, such as supporting informal caregivers and reducing the burden on healthcare facilities.
Ethical Considerations in Implementing the Solutions
The four key ethical principles, autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice, must be considered when implementing the potential solutions to ensure fair, effective, patient-centered care for the aging population. Autonomy can be respected by allowing older adults to make their own healthcare decisions, provided they are capable. For example, an 80-year-old may want to remain in their home with caregiver assistance instead of moving to a nursing facility, which should be respected.
The principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence can be considered by ensuring home modifications introduced in aging-in-place initiatives benefit older adults and do not cause further harm. For example, a senior with arthritis would benefit from a modified home with grab bars and ramps while reducing harm to their risk of injury. Justice can be maintained by ensuring equitable access to the proposed initiatives for all elderly adults, regardless of income, race, or geographical location. An example would be ensuring that low-income seniors receive the same initiatives and caregiver support as wealthier individuals.
Solution and the Spheres of Care
Caregiver support would significantly benefit the spheres of care, including disease management and wellness/disease prevention. Caregiver support for families and caregivers of the elderly can be practical in chronic disease management, primarily because chronic diseases are more prevalent among the aging population. Through the training and education offered through caregiver support programs, the caregivers can become more proactive and efficient in helping their seniors manage chronic illnesses, hence improving health outcomes, reducing hospital visits and improving the overall quality of life (Vinsur et al., 2023).
The aging-in-place initiatives solution would also benefit the wellness and disease prevention sphere of care among the elderly. The initiative aims to introduce home modifications for older adults to support their living at home rather than seeking assistance from assisted living institutions. For instance, home modifications include home safety improvements to prevent falls. Falls are more prevalent among the elderly and contribute to injury, hospitalization, and other dire consequences. Therefore, these modifications promote the wellness of the elderly living in their homes and prevent falls, which can be associated with increased injuries and hospitalization.
In addition, the caregiver support solution would benefit disease prevention by educating caregivers on the importance of preventing illnesses and complications by ensuring all recommended preventive measures for the elderly are followed. For instance, the caregiver can ensure the elderly under their care attend regular health screenings and vaccinations and support hygiene and infection prevention, thus promoting their wellness and disease prevention.
Conclusion
The aging population presents significant challenges that require proactive healthcare solutions to ensure elderly-friendly care. This issue can be addressed using aging-in-place initiatives and caregiver support programs. These solutions benefit wellness/disease prevention and chronic disease management spheres of care by promoting independence, reducing institutional care reliance, and equipping caregivers with essential skills. Ethical considerations, such as autonomy, beneficence, and justice, ensure these solutions are fair and effective. Integrating these strategies will ensure that the healthcare systems can improve elderly care quality, reduce hospitalizations, and enhance their overall well-being.
References
Aina, F. O., Fadare, J. O., Deji-Dada, O. O., & Agbesanwa, T. A. (2021). Increasing burden of aging population on health services utilization: A myth or reality in a country with a predominantly young population. Aging Medicine and Healthcare, 12, 41-45. https://doi.org/:10.33879/AMH.XXX.2020.07023
Jakovljevic, M., Kumagai, N., & Ogura, S. (2023). Editorial: Global population aging – Health care, social and economic consequences, volume II. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1184950. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1184950
Lin, M., Tong, W., Chen, J., Zeng, T., Ma, L., Feng, J., Sun, R. & Liang, Z. (2024). Optimal multi-resource planning for the elderly care system: A case study. International Journal of Production Research, 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2024.2429786
Sumner, J., Chong, L. S., Bundele, A., & Wei Lim, Y. (2021). Co-designing technology for aging in place: A systematic review. The Gerontologist, 61(7), e395–e409. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa064
Vinsur, E. Y. Y., Handini, F. S., & Nurwiyono, A. (2023). Family caregiver support program to increase quality care among the geriatric population. Comprehensive Nursing Journal, 9(1). https://doi.org/10.33755/jkk.v9i1.435