NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers
NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers Topic 1: Identification of Issue Significant to Nursing Practice I
Objectives:
- Create a plan for successful course completion.
- Propose possible topics for a capstone project change proposal based on a community needs assessment.
- Collaborate with a preceptor on a capstone project change proposal.
Summary of Current Course Content Knowledge
Academic engagement through active participation in instructional activities related to the course objectives is paramount to your success in this course and future courses. Through interaction with your instructor and classmates, you will explore the course material and be provided with the best opportunity for objective and competency mastery. To begin this class, review the course objectives for each Topic, and then answer the following questions as this will help guide your instructor for course instruction.
- Which weekly objectives do you have prior knowledge of and to what extent?
- Which weekly objectives do you have no prior knowledge of?
- What course-related topics would you like to discuss with your instructor and classmates? What questions or concerns do you have about this course?
Topic 1 DQ 1
The National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) championed the goal that 90% of clinical decisions will be evidence-based by 2020. A recent systematic review of the published literature indicates that evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation remains deficient despite an ongoing effort to increase implementation. Discuss two barriers that might hold nursing practice from achieving this goal and suggest ways in which the identified barriers may be addressed.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Topic 1 DQ 2
In preparation for your assignment this week, brainstorm two to three clinical practice problems or issues you can develop into a nursing practice change. What indicates these as clinical issues in nursing practice? Support your discussion with two peer-reviewed journal articles.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Capstone Change Project Topics
The purpose of this assignment is to perform a needs assessment and begin thinking about topics for the capstone project change proposal.
Work with your preceptor to perform a needs assessment of the clinical site, including organization and community, for your practicum. Review the needs assessment to identify possible project topics.
In preparation for the capstone project change proposal, compile a list of three to five possible topics for your project.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Individual Success Plan (ISP)
Planning is the key to successful completion of this course and program-related objectives. The Individual Success Plan (ISP) assignment requires early collaboration with the course faculty and your clinical preceptor. Students must establish a plan for successful completion of:
- The required 50 community direct clinical practice experience hours, 50 leadership direct clinical practice experience hours, and 25 indirect care experience hours.
- Completion of work associated with program competencies.
- Work associated with completion of the student’s capstone project change proposal.
Students will use the Individual Success Plan to develop an individual plan for completing practice hours and course objectives. As a part of this process, students will identify the number of hours set aside to meet course goals.
Student expectations and instructions for completing the ISP document are provided in the “NRS-465 Individual Success Plan” template.
The Individual Success Plan is a clinical document that is necessary to meet clinical requirements for this course. Therefore, the form should be submitted with the preceptor’s hand-written signature. A typed electronic signature will not be accepted.
Students should apply concepts from prior courses to critically examine and improve their current practice. Students are expected to integrate scholarly readings to develop case reports that demonstrate increasingly complex and proficient practice.
After the ISP has been developed by the student and approved by the course faculty, students will initiate a preconference with the faculty and preceptor to review the ISP.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Attachments
NRS-465-RS-T1-IndividualSuccessPlan.docx
Lopes Activity Tracker
Document your clinical practice hours using the Lopes Activity Tracker (LAT) in your student portal. Once you have opened the app, click on the link for your class to record your hours. Clinical practice hours should be documented and submitted within 48 hours of the clinical experience. After the hours have been submitted, the preceptor will verify the hours, which are then reviewed by the faculty.
Students need to meet the required clinical hours in both leadership and community categories. As such, students will need to ensure to document 50 hours in the leadership category and 50 hours in the community category.
Download the electronic summary of your practicum experience from the Lopes Activity Tracker. Save the file and submit it though the assignment drop box for faculty approval.
This report is to be submitted in every topic.
Troubleshooting tip: For help using Lopes Activity Tracker, you can visit the technical support website listed in the Class Resources. Should your preceptor have difficulties accessing ThunderTime, please reach out to your Field Experience Counselor to have them resend the ThunderTime set up email.
Practice Experience Conference (Pre-Conference)
Students are required to initiate a preconference that will occur during the first week of class and must include the faculty member and the preceptor. Conferences may be conducted face-to-face or via synchronous technology such as Skype, Zoom, or GoToMeeting. The student, preceptor, and faculty must be present at the conference. The student and preceptor will complete the “Practice Experience Conference Form” and the student will submit it to the instructor in the digital classroom after the conference has taken place. This form will also be used for the mid-conference and post-conference.
The Practice Experience Conference Form is a clinical document that is necessary to meet clinical requirements for this course. Therefore, the approval form should be submitted with the preceptor’s hand-written signature. A typed electronic signature will not be accepted.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers Topic 2: Identification of Issue Significant to Nursing Practice II
Objectives:
- Identify GCU resources available to assist in the completion of the capstone project change proposal.
- Identify a clinical practice problem or an organizational issue within a community clinical practice setting.
- Discuss the implications a clinical practice problem or issue has on nursing practice.
Topic 2 DQ 1
Once you have selected a topic for your capstone project, you will need to examine research articles to explore viable solutions. The GCU Library has various resources to support students during this process.
Based on the first letter of your first name, you are assigned the following GCU Library resource: A-F: GCU Library Nursing and Health Sciences Research Guide
G-L: GCU Library: Find Journal Articles
M-S: GCU Library: What Are Empirical/Research Articles? T-Z: GCU Library: Capstone and Evidence-Based Projects
Please note: each of these links can be found in the topic Resources.
Describe the resource assigned to you including two examples of how this resource will support your successful completion of the capstone project.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Topic 2 DQ 2
Differentiate between research and EBP. Discuss a peer-reviewed article that you have located that supports the need for a change in nursing practice.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Benchmark – Capstone Project Topic Selection and Approval
In collaboration with the approved clinical preceptor, students will identify a specific evidence-based topic for the capstone project change proposal. Students should consider the clinical environment in which they are currently employed or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a leadership or quality improvement initiative, or an unmet educational need specific to a patient population or community. The selected problem should encourage the student to engage in interprofessional collaborative practice.
Students should select a topic that aligns to their area of interest as well as the clinical practice setting in which practice hours are completed.
This project is only a proposal and will not be implemented in a practice setting.
Write a 750-1000-word description of your proposed capstone project topic. Include the following:
- Describe the problem or issue that will be the focus of the change proposal. Explain with which category (leadership or community) the selected topic would best align.
- Discuss the setting or context in which the problem or issue can be observed and describe the population affected by this problem or issue.
- Discuss the implications this clinical practice problem or issue has on nursing practice.
- Based on your needs assessment in Topic 1, describe why this is a priority for the community/clinical site or affected clinical population.
- Briefly describe the organizational structure (mission, vision, values, leadership structure, etc.) of the practicum site. What internal and external processes will impact care coordination for the selected population or community?
- How effective has the organization been in addressing the identified problem or issue?
You are required to cite a minimum of three peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the past 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
RN-BSN
- : Apply knowledge of systems to work effectively across the continuum of care.
7.3: Optimize system effectiveness through application of innovation and evidence-based practice. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 3.1, 7.1 and 7.3
Lopes Activity Tracker
Assessment Description
Document your clinical practice hours using the Lopes Activity Tracker (LAT) in your student portal. Once you have opened the app, click on the link for your class to record your hours. Clinical practice hours should be documented and submitted within 48 hours of the clinical experience. After the hours have been submitted, the preceptor will verify the hours, which are then reviewed by the faculty.
Students need to meet the required clinical hours in both leadership and community categories. As such, students will need to ensure to document 50 hours in the leadership category and 50 hours in the community category.
Download the electronic summary of your practicum experience from the Lopes Activity Tracker. Save the file and submit it though the assignment drop box for faculty approval.
This report is to be submitted in every topic.
Troubleshooting tip: For help using Lopes Activity Tracker, you can visit the technical support website listed in the Class Resources. Should your preceptor have difficulties accessing ThunderTime, please reach out to your Field Experience Counselor to have them resend the ThunderTime set up email.
Scholarly Activities
Throughout the RN-to-BSN program, students are required to participate in scholarly activities outside of clinical practice or professional practice. Examples of scholarly activities include attending conferences, seminars, journal clubs, grand rounds, morbidity and mortality meetings, interdisciplinary committees, quality improvement committees, and any other opportunities available at your site, within your community, or nationally.
You are required to post at least one documented scholarly activity by the end of this course. In addition to this submission, you are required to be involved and contribute to interdisciplinary initiatives on a regular basis.
Submit, by way of this assignment, a summary report of the scholarly activity, including who, what, where, when, and any relevant take-home points. Include the appropriate program competencies associated with the scholarly activity as well as future professional goals related to this activity. Use the “Scholarly Activity Summary” resource to help guide this assignment.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 9.3, 10.2, 10.3
Attachments
NRS-465-RS-ScholarlyActivities.docx
NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers Topic 3: Development of Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal I
Objectives:
- Develop a PICOT question for an identified nursing practice problem or issue.
- Explain how self-reflection supports ethical comportment and moral courage in decision-making.
Topic 3 DQ 1
Develop a PICOT question using your approved nursing practice problem. Post a draft of your PICOT question in the following format:
In (Population), how does (Intervention) compared to (Comparison) affect ……………. (Outcome) within (Time, optional)?
This should be the same question you will be using in your “PICOT Question Development” assignment. Give and receive feedback to refine your PICOT question.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 9.3
Topic 3 DQ 2
Define the role of the Institutional Review Board (IRB) when conducting research. Provide an example of a peer-reviewed research article involving human subjects and addressing a nursing practice issue. Discuss the ethical considerations the researchers considered when conducting the study.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Benchmark – Professional Capstone and Practicum Reflective Journal – Topic 3
Students are required to submit reflective journal entries at specific points throughout the course. These reflective narratives help students identify important learning events that happen throughout the course and the practicum.
Write a reflective journal (250-500 words) to outline how your experience at your practicum site related to the following reflective questions:
- Reflect on your personal and professional values and your conscious and unconscious biases as they relate to your practicum site. Explain what steps you have taken, or will need to take, to become more aware of how these values and biases influence your interactions. How will values and biases impact your practice?
- Based on your own implicit biases, discuss the relationship that one’s culture and environment have on these biases. How has the environment you live and work in shaped your own implicit biases? Is the environment of your practicum site impacting your biases?
- How can self-reflection be used to help us exhibit ethical comportment and moral courage in decision making in our practice?
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
RN-BSN
9.6: Integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion as core to one’s professional identity.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 9.5, 9.6, and 10.3
Lopes Activity Tracker
Document your clinical practice hours using the Lopes Activity Tracker (LAT) in your student portal. Once you have opened the app, click on the link for your class to record your hours. Clinical practice hours should be documented and submitted within 48 hours of the clinical experience. After the hours have been submitted, the preceptor will verify the hours, which are then reviewed by the faculty.
Students need to meet the required clinical hours in both leadership and community categories. As such, students will need to ensure to document 50 hours in the leadership category and 50 hours in the community category.
Download the electronic summary of your practicum experience from the Lopes Activity Tracker. Save the file and submit it though the assignment drop box for faculty approval.
This report is to be submitted in every topic.
Troubleshooting tip: For help using Lopes Activity Tracker, you can visit the technical support website listed in the Class Resources. Should your preceptor have difficulties accessing ThunderTime, please reach out to your Field Experience Counselor to have them resend the ThunderTime set up email.
PICOT Question Development
The purpose of this assignment is to develop a PICOT question. A PICOT (Patient, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome and Time) question starts with a designated patient population in a particular clinical area and identifies clinical problems or issues that arise from clinical care. The intervention used to address the problem must be a nursing practice intervention. Include a comparison of the nursing intervention to a patient population not currently receiving the nursing intervention, and specify the timeframe needed to implement the change process.
Using the “PICOT Question” template, formulate a PICOT question applying the PICOT format that addresses the approved clinical nursing problem from Topic 2.
The PICOT question will provide a framework for your capstone project change proposal.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and documentation of sources should be presented using APA formatting guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 3.1
Attachments
NRS-465-RS-T3-PICOTDevelopment.docx
NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers Topic 4: Development of Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal II
Objectives:
- Compare change and nursing theories.
- Propose a change or nursing theory for a capstone project change proposal intervention.
- Synthesize discovered evidence-based research data for supporting the capstone project change proposal.
Topic 4 DQ 1
Assess the culture of the clinical site/organization and organizational policies for potential challenges in implementing the nursing practice intervention. Why is understanding the health care system and clinical system at the local level important to consider when planning an EBP implementation?
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Topic 4 DQ 2
Compare and contrast two change and/or nursing theories. Explain which theory would best support the implementation of your specific evidence-based intervention. Provide rationale for your choice. Gather feedback on applying this theory to your clinical setting from your preceptor and share their insights in your post.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
Literature Evaluation Table
In nursing practice, accurate identification and application of research is essential to achieving successful outcomes. The ability to articulate research data and summarize relevant content supports the student’s ability to further develop and synthesize the assignments that constitute the components of the capstone project.
This assignment will be used to develop a written implementation plan.
For this assignment, provide a synopsis of the review of the research literature. Using the “Literature Evaluation Table,” determine the level and strength of the evidence for each of the eight research articles you have selected. The articles should be current (published within the past 5 years) and closely relate to the PICOT question developed earlier in this course. The articles may include quantitative research, descriptive analyses, longitudinal studies, or meta-analysis articles. A systematic review may be used to provide background information for the purpose or problem identified in the proposed capstone project.
While APA style is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected, and in-text citations and references should be presented using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are not required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Attachments
NRS-465-T4-RS-Literature Evaluation Table.docx
Lopes Activity Tracker
Document your clinical practice hours using the Lopes Activity Tracker (LAT) in your student portal. Once you have opened the app, click on the link for your class to record your hours. Clinical practice hours should be documented and submitted within 48 hours of the clinical experience. After the hours have been submitted, the preceptor will verify the hours, which are then reviewed by the faculty.
Students need to meet the required clinical hours in both leadership and community categories. As such, students will need to ensure to document 50 hours in the leadership category and 50 hours in the community category.
Download the electronic summary of your practicum experience from the Lopes Activity Tracker. Save the file and submit it though the assignment drop box for faculty approval.
This report is to be submitted in every topic.
Troubleshooting tip: For help using Lopes Activity Tracker, you can visit the technical support website listed in the Class Resources. Should your preceptor have difficulties accessing ThunderTime, please reach out to your Field Experience Counselor to have them resend the ThunderTime set up email.
NRS 465 Applied Evidence-Based Project and Practicum Papers Topic 5: Change Proposal Implementation Plan I
Objectives:
- Identify internal and external stakeholders for implementing a change proposal.
- Develop a solution for addressing a clinical practice issue for improving patient outcomes.
- Discuss the impact of a proposed nursing practice intervention.
- Discuss steps for implementing a proposed nursing practice intervention for a capstone change proposal.
Topic 5 DQ 1
Stakeholder support is necessary for a successful project implementation. Consider your internal stakeholders, such as the facility, unit, or health care setting where the change proposal is being considered, and your external stakeholders, like an individual or group outside the health care setting. Based on your assessment, identify two internal and two external stakeholders. Why is their support necessary to the success of your change proposal? Identify one unique strength (as a person/nurse) that would help you secure support from stakeholders in order to develop effective interprofessional relationships.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty Benchmark – Capstone Change Project Implementation Plan be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 3.5, 6.2, 9.1
Topic 5 DQ 2
Technology is integral to successful implementation in many projects, through either support or integration or both. Name two information/communication technologies that could improve the implementation process and the outcomes of your capstone project. How would this technology be appropriately applied during the implementation phase of your project? Describe one potential barrier that could prevent the use of this technology.
Initial discussion question posts should be a minimum of 200 words and include at least two references cited using APA format. Responses to peers or faculty should be 100-150 words and include one reference. Refer to “RN-BSN DQ Rubric” and “RN-BSN Participation Rubric,” located in Class Resources, to understand the expectations for initial discussion question posts and participation posts, respectively.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 8.1, 8.3
Benchmark – Capstone Change Project Implementation Plan
The purpose of this assignment will be to begin developing an implementation plan for your project.
In 750-1,000-words, include the following in your plan:
- In 1-2 sentences, summarize the problem or issue being addressed by your proposed change project.
- Based on the assessment of your practicum site and the literature evaluation you completed in Topic 4, propose how you will address the identified problem or issue (this will be the solution). Solutions should include sociocultural and linguistic considerations and affect nursing practice.
- Discuss steps for how the nursing practice intervention will be implemented in the capstone project change proposal proposed above. In your discussion include the impact it will have on nursing practice.
- Write a list of three to five objectives for your proposed intervention. Remember, objectives serve as the goals of your project.
- Based on your objectives, develop a list of three to five measurable outcomes for your proposed intervention. Remember, outcomes serve as the tangible, measurable results of implementing your project and should align with your objectives.
- Provide a rationale for how your proposed project, objectives, and outcomes demonstrate respect for autonomy (self-determination) for individuals and diverse populations.
You are required to cite a minimum of two peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the past 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. A link to the LopesWrite technical support articles is located in Class Resources if you need assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
RN-BSN
5.1: Apply quality improvement principles in care delivery.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Core Competencies for Professional Nursing Education This assignment aligns to AACN Core Competencies 2.8. 3.1, 5.1
Lopes Activity Tracker
Document your clinical practice hours using the Lopes Activity Tracker (LAT) in your student portal. Once you have opened the app, click on the link for your class to record your hours. Clinical practice hours should be documented and submitted within 48 hours of the clinical experience. After the hours have been submitted, the preceptor will verify the hours, which are then reviewed by the faculty.
Students need to meet the required clinical hours in both leadership and community categories. As such, students will need to ensure to document 50 hours in the leadership category and 50 hours in the community category.
Download the electronic summary of your practicum experience from the Lopes Activity Tracker. Save the file and submit it though the assignment drop box for faculty approval.
This report is to be submitted in every topic.
Troubleshooting tip: For help using Lopes Activity Tracker, you can visit the technical support website listed in the Class Resources. Should your preceptor have difficulties accessing ThunderTime, please reach out to your Field Experience Counselor to have them resend the ThunderTime set up email