Nursing Benchmark Capstone Project

Students identify a clinically relevant issue, problem, idea or initiative in their community clinical practice setting. They connect an identified organizational aspect of the practice environment with nursing theory and an evidence-based change proposal.

Students will review and NRS 493 Benchmark Capstone Project Change Proposal evaluate research articles using rapid critical appraisal tools developed by Melnyk & Fineout-Overholt (2011).

1. Literature Review

The eight articles reviewed in this assignment address the role of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in improving smoking cessation outcomes. The studies utilize both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to investigate NRT effectiveness. In addition, the research studies examine the determinants of smoking cessation failure including personal, environmental and social factors.

Nursing theories are a framework that shapes the extent of nurses’ practice, helping them interpret circumstances and determine patients’ needs. nrs 493 capstone project change proposal presentation theory subject headings in CINAHL make it easy to find scholarly articles that investigate particular nursing speculations.

The articles examined in this assignment are critically evaluated using Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt’s (2011) rapid critical appraisal tools. This is done to assess the quality of each source and the relevance to nursing practice. The studies reviewed have several limitations, such as small sample population size which reduces the generalizability of the results. Also, the research aims are too broad and lack specificity. The current research intends to remedy this by recruiting a large participant population and by focusing on NRT as a single smoking cessation strategy.

2. Implementation Plan

A nursing student will use their assigned study materials and research articles to identify a clinical problem that needs an evidence-based solution and the specific nursing intervention needed. Then the student will formulate a PICOT question using the following format: Problem, Intervention, Comparison, and Timeframe.

This capstone project change proposal aims to minimize CLABSIs, help satisfy the unit’s gold guideline objective and improve patient outcomes. The essential interventions include staff nurses feeling certain and competent with central line care abilities, being NRS 493 Individual Success Plan of all EBPs for this methodology, promoting patient-focused care, and providing educational opportunities to enhance knowledge on the importance of preventing CLABSI. The student will also identify possible hindrances to plan execution and incorporate how the barriers will be overcome. Lastly, the student will perform a critical evaluation of the studies they have selected and utilize the rapid critical appraisal tools as outlined by Melnyk and Fineout-Overholt (2011). The student will determine the level of evidence, the strength of the evidence and how applicable the evidence is to practice.

3. Interprofessional Collaboration

While healthcare professionals have different expertise and professional roles, interprofessional collaboration can help achieve optimal health outcomes for patients. In this assignment, students will evaluate their own and other healthcare professions’ abilities to collaborate well during a clinical simulation using the SBAR communication tool. They will also analyze what they would do differently in a future collaboration.

To demonstrate this capability, students will address IPEC competency 2, sub-competency RR1, by clearly communicating their own role and responsibilities to patients, families, communities and other healthcare professionals. They will also address IPEC competency 1, sub-competency VE4, by respecting the unique cultures, values, roles/responsibilities and nrs 493 topic 1 lopes activity tracker kr of other healthcare professionals.

Students will identify a clinically oriented problem and create a change proposal to address the problem. They will then develop a comprehensive plan to implement the change. They will also reflect on their practicum experience in a course-long reflective journal. Finally, they will initiate a Post-Conference meeting with their preceptor and faculty to discuss the completion of their Individual Success Plan and the course learning objectives.

4. Professional Presentation

The final nursing capstone paper incorporates the research steps and processes as well as nursing theory in a written comprehensive evidence-based change proposal. It also includes identification of potential barriers to plan implementation with a discussion component that addresses how those barriers will be overcome.

The nursing capstone project must be a scholarly work and use the PICOT format (patient/problem, intervention, comparison, outcome). This NR501 Importance of Theory in Nursing will help you stay focused during your search for scholarly articles to support your project.

For example, the University of Louisville Hospital is looking at ways to decrease patient falls. They are implementing a bed alarm sound and making the call light more distinct to give staff a reminder that patients need to be assessed. This will help keep the patient safe and reduce the number of fall incidents. After completing the assignment, students will complete an evaluation of their preceptor and clinical practicum site through the Lopes Activity Tracker.

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Importance of Theory in Nursing