NURS-FPX4900 Assessment 1: Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

NURS-FPX4900 Assessment 1: Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

• In a 5-7 page written assessment, define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Assess the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. Plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours meeting with a patient, family, or group of your choice to explore the problem and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.

Introduction

Nurses in all professional roles work to effect positive patient outcomes and improve organizational processes. Professional nurses are leaders in problem identification, planning, and strategy implementation—skills that directly affect patient care or organizational effectiveness.

Too often, change agents jump to a conclusion that an intervention will promote the envisioned improvement. Instead, the ideal approach is to determine which interventions are appropriate, based on an assessment and review of credible evidence. Interventions could be patient-facing or involve a change in policy and process. In this assessment, you’ll identify and make the case for your practicum focus area, then explore it in depth from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective.

This assessment lays the foundation for the work that will carry you through your capstone experience and guide the practicum hours needed to complete the work in this course. In addition, it will enable you to do the following:

• Develop a problem statement for a patient, family, or population that’s relevant to your practice.
• Begin building a body of evidence that will inform your approach to your practicum.
• Focus on the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem.

Preparation

In this assessment, you’ll assess the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Plan to spend approximately 2 hours working with a patient, family, or group of your choice to explore the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts about the problem (for example, directors of quality or patient safety, nurse managers/directors, physicians, and epidemiologists).

To prepare for the assessment, complete the following:

• Identify the patient, family, or group you want to work with during your practicum The patient you select can be a friend or a family member. You’ll work with this patient, family, or group throughout your capstone project, focusing on a specific health care problem.
• Begin surveying the scholarly and professional literature to establish your evidence and research base, inform your assessment, and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.

In addition, you may wish to complete the following:

• Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you’ll be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
• Review thePracticum Focus Sheet: Assessment 1 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.

Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Supportpage.

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1

Define the patient, family, or population health problem that will be the focus of your capstone project. Assess the problem from a leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy perspective and establish your evidence and research base to plan, implement, and share findings related to your project.

Part 2

Connect with the patient, family, or group you’ll work with during your practicum. During this portion of your practicum, plan to spend at least 2 hours meeting with the patient, family, or group and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. The hours you spend meeting with them should take place outside of regular work hours. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet [PDF] provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.

Capella Academic Portal

Complete the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in Capella Academic Portal. Include a description of your relationship to the patient, family, or group in the Volunteer Experience comments field.

The BSN Capstone Course (NURS-FPX4900 ) requires the completion and documentation of nine (9) practicum hours. All hours must be recorded in the Capella Academic Portal. Please review the BSN Practicum Campus page for more information and instructions on how to log your hours.

Requirements

The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

• Define a patient, family, or population health problem that’s relevant to your practice.
  • Summarize the problem you’ll explore.
  • Identify the patient, family, or group you intend to work with during your practicum.
  • Provide context, data, or information that substantiates the presence of the problem and its significance and relevance to the patient, family, or population.
  • Explain why this problem is relevant to your practice as a baccalaureate-prepared nurse.
• Analyze evidence from peer-reviewed literature and professional sources that describes and guides nursing actions related to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined.
  • Note whether the authors provide supporting evidence from the literature that’s consistent with what you see in your nursing practice.
  • Explain how you would know if the data are unreliable.
  • Describe what the literature says about barriers to the implementation of evidence-based practice in addressing the problem you’ve defined.
  • Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of nursing standards and/or policies in improving patient, family, or population outcomes for this problem.
  • Describe current literature on the role of nurses in policy making to improve outcomes, prevent illness, and reduce hospital readmissions.
  • Describe what the literature says about a nursing theory or conceptual framework that might frame and guide your actions during your practicum.
• Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies could affect the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined.
  • Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of these standards and/or policies in improving patient, family, or population outcomes for this problem.
  • Describe current literature on the role of nurses in policy making to improve outcomes, prevent illness, and reduce hospital readmissions.
  • Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of this problem.
• Propose leadership strategies to improve outcomes, patient-centered care, and the patient experience related to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined.
  • Discuss research on the effectiveness of leadership strategies.
  • Define the role that you anticipate leadership must play in addressing the problem.
  • Describe collaboration and communication strategies that you anticipate will be needed to address the problem.
  • Describe the change management strategies that you anticipate will be required to address the problem.
  • Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
• Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
• Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Additional Requirements

• Format: Format your paper using APA style.APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
  • A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
  • Appropriate section headings.
• Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
• Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
• Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Lead people and processes to improve patient, systems, and population outcomes.
  • Define a patient, family, or population health problem that’s relevant to personal and professional practice.
• Competency 2: Make clinical and operational decisions based upon the best available evidence.
  • Analyze evidence from peer-reviewed literature and professional sources that describes and guides nursing actions related to a defined patient, family, or population problem.
• Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
  • Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies could affect a defined patient, family, or population problem.
• Competency 7: Implement patient-centered care to improve quality of care and the patient experience.
  • Propose leadership strategies to improve outcomes, patient-centered care, and the patient experience related to a defined patient, family, or population problem and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
• Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
  • Organize content so ideas flow logically with smooth transitions.
  • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations Example Paper

Wei et al. (2021) indicate that collaboration among healthcare providers has increased patient outcomes such as adverse drug reactions, decreased mortality and morbidity, and improved medication dosage. One of the main issues impacting healthcare provision among patients is poor communication. Poor communication among nurses and physicians increased patient dissatisfaction and adverse patient outcomes.

Studies indicate that hypertension puts patients at a high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate for hypertension remains high, and the condition remains undertreated, under detected, and uncontrolled. Team-based care is coordinated care which involves various healthcare providers working together collaboratively to help patients manage Hypertension (Linthicum et al., 2021). Team-based care has received attention since it allows patients to access high-quality care from various healthcare providers.

Hospitals that lack proper communication and collaboration among the healthcare provider also experience higher rates of readmission and increased hospital stays among patients. This paper will assess a patient with hypertension from a leadership, communication, collaboration, change management, and policy perspective.

Patient Health Problem and Relevance to Nursing Practice

In this assessment, we will consider the case of Tina Jones, a 38-year-old African American with no history of substance abuse but admits to turning to food as a way of coping with stress and anxiety. She states that she lives in the ‘hood’ and is constantly worrying about the safety of her husband and her son. She is also 30lbs past her recommended BMI. She has issues sticking to a healthy diet because she frequently visits her parents (3-4 times a week) and her father enjoys spoiling her with barbecues and other fried foods.

She does not find eating vegetables appealing and generally avoids them. Her mother has a history of diabetes and high blood pressure, while her father was recently diagnosed with hyperlipidemia. Her father, unlike her, maintains a highly active lifestyle and exercises four days a week. The combination of the poor lifestyle choices and the high blood pressure issue increase Mrs. Jones’ adverse outcomes.

This issue is a significant problem for the patient because it increases her risk of developing cardiovascular conditions. Her poor lifestyle choices also increase her chances of developing diabetes, among other lifestyle-related diseases. Carey et al. (2018) indicate that African Americans are twice more likely to develop hypertension than other populations.

Blacks have a higher incidence of hypertension-related cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal failure than other populations in the United States. The CDC suggests that a heightened response is necessary due to the disparities in high blood pressure control in African American individuals (Wei et al., 2021). Poor management of hypertension causes patients to develop treatment-resistant hypertension.

 Carthon et al. (2019) indicate that African Americans are more sensitive to salt than other patient populations. They also respond differently to high blood pressure medication than other patient groups. As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, this information is essential because it indicates that while hypertension is mainly a lifestyle-related condition, certain populations are more prone to developing the problem than others (Linthicum et al., 2021).

Therefore, it is vital to constantly advise and educate African American patients about their risk of developing the condition and salt sensitivity. It also demonstrates that specific treatment should be considered for this patient population.

Evidence from Peer-Reviewed Literature Describing and Guiding Nursing Actions Related To the Issue

Research agrees with observations made when treating patients with hypertension. A person’s lifestyle, pharmaceutical regimen, underlying health issues, genetic background, or a combination of these elements can cause hypertension. Age, race, a family medical history of hypertension or premature cardiovascular disease, and other concomitant health issues are all nonmodifiable health issues (Carthon et al., 2019).

Therefore changing a patient’s lifestyle through healthy eating and exercise will achieve a healthy weight and reverse their hypertension diagnosis. Integrated therapy also involves various psychotherapy treatments, including changing the patient’s lifestyle (Wei et al., 2021). The success of a treatment course is measured by the patient’s acceptance and adherence to the treatment regimen. The reliability of research data is measured by comparing various versions of the same measurement. Its validity is found by comparing other relevant data and theories.

Modey Amoah et al. (2020) suggests that despite efforts to combat hypertension through pharmacotherapy, the control of the condition remains low. Lifestyle modifications of patients with hypertension allow them to enjoy better health outcomes. The study assessed the impact of modifiable lifestyle factors on blood pressure among patients in Ghana.

The study used 360 individuals diagnosed with hypertension. The study used a diet and exercise assessment, and the blood pressure was measured frequently. The study concluded that increased physical activity, increased fruit intake, and reduced meat, carbohydrates, and fat positively impacted blood pressure control among patients. The lifestyle modified factors play a significant role in complementing pharmacotherapy in blood pressure control.

Nurses play a significant role in improving patient outcomes. Since they are at the forefront of patient care, nurses are responsible for educating patients on the importance of eating healthily and maintaining an active lifestyle (Linthicum et al., 2021). Nurses also have the role of continuing their education and finding ways of implementing evidence-based research into their treatment plans. Orem’s self-care framework was most suitable for this issue (Wei et al., 2021).

The theory suggests that individuals should deliberately and freely initiate and perform on their behalf in maintaining life, health, and well-being. Nurses’ actions should be directed toward assisting the patient in assuming responsibility for self-care (Nasresabetghadam et al., 2021). Therefore, with proper education on the best lifestyle changes, Mrs. Jones can enjoy a healthy life and significantly reduce her blood pressure and weight.

How the State Board Nursing Practice Standards and Organization Policies Could Impact the Population with Hypertension

According to the Nursing Practice Act (NPA), nurses must provide safe, appropriate, and responsive quality nursing practice and develop a plan for nursing practice. To achieve these objectives, nurses have to implement and recognize the nursing practices and act to improve the treatment and comply with practice requirements (Carthon et al., 2019).

Nurses should advocate for better care for the patients ensure they have the information to with the information they need. Nurses should educate patients on the impact of salty and fried foods on their health. They should also advocate for the creation of public policies which prevent and ensure appropriate treatment for hypertension.

The organizational culture significantly impacts patient care (Wei et al., 2021). A healthier organizational culture will ensure positive patient outcomes such as reduced mortality and length of stay. It will also improve the patients’ quality of life and decrease pain levels. The organization culture should support nurses’ efforts of educating patients and providing evidence-based treatment.

Proper Leadership Strategies to Improve Patient Outcomes Related To Hypertension

Organizational success and leadership have a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Ideology, culture, change adaptability, and employee empowerment are all determined by leaders (Wei et al., 2021). They influence institutional strategies, as well as their implementation and efficacy. Leaders in healthcare institutions have a critical impact on the care provided to patients. They encourage personnel to increase their knowledge, skills, and talents to enhance health care quality, safety, empathy, and patient outcomes (Akbiyik et al., 2020).

They continually encourage, motivate, and reward innovation and introduce new and better working methods. Nasresabetghadam et al. (2021) indicate that when nurses have proper leadership, medical facilities exhibit improvements in patient satisfaction, patient safety outcomes, and fewer medical complications. Nurse leaders are increasingly being asked to provide patients with better healthcare encounters. Effective leadership, communication, and collaboration can increase, leading to better patient outcomes.

Conclusion

Hypertension is a condition that can greatly impact a patient’s outcomes and quality of life. However, since it is a lifestyle-related health problem, it can be managed and reversed when the patients engage in regular exercises and have a better diet. Nurses play a critical role in patient care and educate patients on the best practices to ensure better patient outcomes. Effective organizational leadership can improve patient outcomes, and nurses are encouraged to practice evidence-based patient-centered care. Nurses should also be actively involved in the development of policies and legislation that can help the country and communities reduce the number of patients suffering from hypertension and other lifestyle-related illnesses.

References

Akbiyik, A., Korhan, E. A., Kiray, S., & Kirsan, M. (2020). The effect of nurses’ leadership behavior on the quality of nursing care and patient outcomes. Creative nursing, 26(1), e8-e18. DOI:10.1891/1078-4535.26.1.e8

Carey, R. M., Muntner, P., Bosworth, H. B., & Whelton, P. K. (2018). Prevention and control of Hypertension: JACC health promotion series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(11), 1278-1293.

Carthon, J. M. B., Davis, L., Dierkes, A., Hatfield, L., Hedgeland, T., Holland, S., … & Aiken, L. H. (2019). Association of nurse engagement and nurse staffing on patient safety. Journal of nursing care quality, 34(1), 40. doi: 10.1097/NCQ.0000000000000334

Linthicum, M. T., dosReis, S., Slejko, J. F., Mattingly, T. J., & Bright, J. L. (2021). The importance of collaboration in pursuit of patient-centered value assessment. The Patient-Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 14(4), 381-384.

Modey Amoah, E., Esinam Okai, D., Manu, A., Laar, A., Akamah, J., & Torpey, K. (2020). The role of lifestyle factors in controlling blood pressure among hypertensive patients in two health facilities in Urban Ghana: a cross-sectional Study. International Journal of Hypertension, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/9379128

Nasresabetghadam, S., Jahanshahi, M., Fotokian, Z., Nasiri, M., & Hajiahmadi, M. (2021). The effects of Orem’s self-care theory on self-care behaviors among older women with Hypertension: A randomized controlled trial. Nursing and Midwifery Studies, 10(2), 99-108.

Wei, H., Corbett, R. W., Ray, J., & Wei, T. L. (2020). A culture of caring: the essence of healthcare interprofessional collaboration. Journal of interprofessional care, 34(3), 324-331.

Assessment 2: Assessing the Problem: Quality, Safety, and Cost Considerations

• In a 5-7 page written assessment, assess the effect of the patient, family, or population problem you’ve previously defined on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual. Plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group you’ve chosen to work with and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Report on your experiences during your first two practicum hours.

Introduction

Organizational data, such as readmission rates, hospital-acquired infections, falls, medication errors, staff satisfaction, serious safety events, and patient experience can be used to prioritize time, resources, and finances. Health care organizations and government agencies use benchmark data to compare the quality of organizational services and report the status of patient safety. Professional nurses are key to comprehensive data collection, reporting, and monitoring of metrics to improve quality and patient safety.

Preparation

In this assessment, you’ll assess the effect of the health problem you’ve defined on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual. Plan to spend at least 2 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts.

To prepare for the assessment:

• • Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
  • Conduct research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your assessment and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
  • Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 2 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.

Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Support page.

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1

Assess the effect of the patient, family, or population problem you defined in the previous assessment on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 2 [PDF] provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions.

Part 2

Report on your experiences during your first 2 practicum hours, including how you presented your ideas about the health problem to the patient, family, or group.

• • Whom did you meet with?
    • What did you learn from them?
  • Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
    • What did you learn from that review?
  • Share the process and experience of exploring the influence of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, and policy on the problem.
    • What barriers, if any, did you encounter when presenting the problem to the patient, family, or group?
      • Did the patient, family, or group agree with you about the presence of the problem and its significance and relevance?
      • What leadership, communication, collaboration, or change management skills did you employ during your interactions to overcome these barriers or change the patient’s, family’s, or group’s thinking about the problem (for example, creating a sense of urgency based on data or policy requirements)?
    • What changes, if any, did you make to your definition of the problem, based on your discussions?
    • What might you have done differently?

Capella Academic Portal

Update the total number of hours on the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in Capella Academic Portal.

The BSN Capstone Course (NURS-FPX4900 ) requires the completion and documentation of nine (9) practicum hours. All hours must be recorded in the Capella Academic Portal. Please review the BSN Practicum Campus page for more information and instructions on how to log your hours.

Requirements

The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

• • Explain how the patient, family, or population problem impacts the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Cite evidence that supports the stated impact.
    • Note whether the supporting evidence is consistent with what you see in your nursing practice.
  • Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies can affect the problem’s impact on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of these standards and/or policies in addressing care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Explain how these standards and/or policies will guide your actions in addressing care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of care quality, patient safety, and cost to the system and individual.
  • Propose strategies to improve the quality of care, enhance patient safety, and reduce costs to the system and individual.
    • Discuss research on the effectiveness of these strategies in addressing care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Identify relevant and available sources of benchmark data on care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Use paraphrasing and summarization to represent ideas from external sources.
  • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Additional Requirements

• • Format: Format your paper using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
    • A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
    • Appropriate section headings.
  • Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
  • Supporting evidence: Cite at least 5 sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
  • Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• • Competency 3: Transform processes to improve quality, enhance patient safety, and reduce the cost of care.
    • Explain how a patient, family, or population problem impacts the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Propose strategies to improve the quality of care, enhance patient safety, and reduce costs to the system and individual and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
    • Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies can affect a patient, family, or population problem’s impact on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
  • Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
    • Use paraphrasing and summarization to represent ideas from external sources.
    • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Assessment 3 Instructions: Assessing the Problem: Technology, Care Coordination, and Community Resources Considerations

• In a 5-7 page written assessment, determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. In addition, plan to spend approximately 2 direct practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group you’ve chosen to work with and, if desired, consulting with subject matter and industry experts. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

Introduction

As a baccalaureate-prepared nurse, you’ll be positioned to maximize the use of technology to achieve positive patient outcomes and improve organizational effectiveness. Providing holistic coordination of patient care across the entire health care continuum and leveraging community resource services can lead both to positive patient outcomes and to organizational improvements.

Preparation

In this assessment, you’ll determine how health care technology, coordination of care, and community resources can be applied to address the health problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also choose to consult with subject matter and industry experts.

To prepare for the assessment:

• • Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
  • Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your assessment and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.
  • Review the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF], which provides guidance for conducting this portion of your practicum.

Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Supportpage.

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts.

Part 1

Determine how health care technology, the coordination of care, and the use of community resources can be applied to address the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Plan to spend at least 2 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form. Use the Practicum Focus Sheet: Assessment 3 [PDF] provided for this assessment to guide your work and interpersonal interactions.

Part 2

Report on your experiences during the second 2 hours of your practicum.

• • Whom did you meet with?
    • What did you learn from them?
  • Comment on the evidence-based practice (EBP) documents or websites you reviewed.
    • What did you learn from that review?
  • Share the process and experience of exploring the effect of the problem on the quality of care, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Did your plan to address the problem change, based upon your experiences?
    • What surprised you, or was of particular interest to you, and why?

Capella Academic Portal

Update the total number of hours on the NURS-FPX4900 Volunteer Experience Form in Capella Academic Portal.

The BSN Capstone Course (NURS-FPX4900 ) requires the completion and documentation of nine (9) practicum hours. All hours must be recorded in the Capella Academic Portal. Please review the BSN Practicum Campus page for more information and instructions on how to log your hours.

Requirements

The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

• • Analyze the impact of health care technology on the patient, family, or population problem.
    • Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the advantages and disadvantages of specific technologies, including research studies that present opposing views.
    • Determine whether the evidence is consistent with technology use you see in your nursing practice.
    • Identify potential barriers and costs associated with the use of specific technologies and how those technologies are applied within the context of this problem.
  • Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address the patient, family, or population problem.
    • Cite evidence from the literature that addresses the benefits of care coordination and the utilization of community resources, including research studies that present opposing views.
    • Determine whether the evidence is consistent with how you see care coordination and community resources used in your nursing practice.
    • Identify barriers to the use of care coordination and community resources in the context of this problem.
  • Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health care technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
    • Explain how these standards or policies will guide your actions in applying technology, care coordination, and community resources to address care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
    • Describe the effects of local, state, and federal policies or legislation on your nursing scope of practice, within the context of technology, care coordination, and community resources.
    • Explain how nursing ethics will inform your approach to addressing the problem through the use of applied technology, care coordination, and community resources.
    • Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
  • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Additional Requirements

• • Format: Format your paper using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
    • A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
    • Appropriate section headings.
  • Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
  • Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
  • Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• • Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
    • Analyze the impact of health care technology on a patient, family, or population problem.
  • Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
    • Analyze state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies associated with health technology, care coordination, and community resources and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Competency 6: Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes.
    • Explain how care coordination and the utilization of community resources can be used to address a patient, family, or population problem.
  • Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
    • Support main points, assertions, arguments, conclusions, or recommendations with relevant and credible evidence.
    • Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.

Assessment 4 Instructions: Patient, Family, or Population Health Problem Solution

• Develop an intervention (your capstone project), as a solution to the patient, family, or population problem you’ve defined. Submit the proposed intervention to the faculty for review and approval. This solution needs to be implemented (shared) with your patient, family, or group. You are not to share your intervention with your patient, family, or group or move on to Assessment 5 before your faculty reviews/approves the solution you submit in Assessment 4. In a separate written deliverable, write a 5-7 page analysis of your intervention.

Please submit both your solution/intervention and the 5-7 page analysis to complete Assessment 4.

Introduction

In your first three assessments, you applied new knowledge and insight gleaned from the literature, from organizational data, and from direct consultation with the patient, family, or group (and perhaps with subject matter and industry experts) to your assessment of the problem. You’ve examined the problem from the perspectives of leadership, collaboration, communication, change management, policy, quality of care, patient safety, costs to the system and individual, technology, care coordination, and community resources. Now it’s time to turn your attention to proposing an intervention (your capstone project), as a solution to the problem.

Preparation

In this assessment, you’ll develop an intervention as a solution to the health problem you’ve defined. To prepare for the assessment, think about an appropriate intervention, based on your work in the preceding assessments, that will produce tangible, measurable results for the patient, family, or group. In addition, you might consider using a root cause analysis to explore the underlying reasons for a problem and as the basis for developing and implementing an action plan to address the problem. Some appropriate interventions include the following:

• • Creating an educational brochure.
  • Producing an educational voice-over PowerPoint presentation or video focusing on your topic.
  • Creating a teaching plan for your patient, family, or group.
  • Recommending work process or workflow changes addressing your topic.

Plan to spend at least 3 direct practicum hours working with the same patient, family, or group.

In addition, you may wish to complete the following:

• • Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide to ensure that you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed.
  • Conduct sufficient research of the scholarly and professional literature to inform your work and meet scholarly expectations for supporting evidence.

Note: As you revise your writing, check out the resources listed on the Writing Center’s Writing Supportpage.

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts: (a) develop an intervention as a solution to the problem and (b) submit your proposed intervention, with a written analysis, to your faculty for review and approval.

Part 1

Develop an intervention, as a solution to the problem, based on your assessment and supported by data and scholarly, evidence-based sources.

Incorporate relevant aspects of the following considerations that shaped your understanding of the problem:

• • Leadership.
  • Collaboration.
  • Communication.
  • Change management.
  • Policy.
  • Quality of care.
  • Patient safety.
  • Costs to the system and individual.
  • Technology.
  • Care coordination.
  • Community resources.

Part 2

Submit your proposed intervention to your faculty for review and approval.

In a separate written deliverable, write a 5–7 page analysis of your intervention.

• • Summarize the patient, family, or population problem.
  • Explain why you selected this problem as the focus of your project.
  • Explain why the problem is relevant to your professional practice and to the patient, family, or group.

In addition, address the requirements outlined below. These requirements correspond to the scoring guide criteria for this assessment, so be sure to address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.

• • Define the role of leadership and change management in addressing the problem.
    • Explain how leadership and change management strategies influenced the development of your proposed intervention.
    • Explain how nursing ethics informed the development of your proposed intervention.
    • Include a copy of the intervention/solution/professional product.
  • Propose strategies for communicating and collaborating with the patient, family, or group to improve outcomes associated with the problem.
    • Identify the patient, family, or group.
    • Discuss the benefits of gathering their input to improve care associated with the problem.
    • Identify best-practice strategies from the literature for effective communication and collaboration to improve outcomes.
  • Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies guided the development of your proposed intervention.
    • Cite the standards and/or policies that guided your work.
    • Describe research that has tested the effectiveness of these standards and/or policies in improving outcomes for this problem.
  • Explain how your proposed intervention will improve the quality of care, enhance patient safety, and reduce costs to the system and individual.
    • Cite evidence from the literature that supports your conclusions.
    • Identify relevant and available sources of benchmark data on care quality, patient safety, and costs to the system and individual.
  • Explain how technology, care coordination, and the utilization of community resources can be applied in addressing the problem.
    • Cite evidence from the literature that supports your conclusions.
  • Write concisely and directly, using active voice.
  • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.

Additional Requirements

• • Format: Format the written analysis of your intervention using APA style. APA Style Paper Tutorial [DOCX] is provided to help you in writing and formatting your paper. Be sure to include:
    • A title page and reference page. An abstract is not required.
    • Appropriate section headings.
  • Length: Your paper should be approximately 5–7 pages in length, not including the reference page.
  • Supporting evidence: Cite at least five sources of scholarly or professional evidence that support your central ideas. Resources should be no more than five years old. Provide in-text citations and references in APA format.
  • Proofreading: Proofread your paper, before you submit it, to minimize errors that could distract readers and make it more difficult for them to focus on its substance.

Portfolio Prompt: Save your intervention to your ePortfolio. After you complete your program, you may want to consider leveraging your portfolio as part of a job search or other demonstration of your academic and professional competencies.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• • Competency 1: Lead people and processes to improve patient, systems, and population outcomes.
    • Define the role of leadership and change management in addressing a patient, family, or population health problem.
  • Competency 3: Transform processes to improve quality, enhance patient safety, and reduce the cost of care.
    • Explain how a proposed intervention to address a patient, family, or population health problem will improve the quality of care, enhance patient safety, and reduce costs to the system and individual.
  • Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
    • Explain how technology, care coordination, and the utilization of community resources can be applied in addressing a patient, family, or population health problem.
  • Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
    • Explain how state board nursing practice standards and/or organizational or governmental policies guided the development of a proposed intervention.
  • Competency 6: Collaborate interprofessionally to improve patient and population outcomes.
    • Propose strategies for communicating and collaborating with a patient, family, or group to improve outcomes associated with a patient, family, or population health problem.
  • Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
    • Write concisely and directly, using active voice.
    • Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.

Assessment 5 Instructions: Intervention Presentation and Capstone Video Reflection

• Present your approved intervention to the patient, family, or group and record a 10-15 minute video reflection on your practicum experience, the development of your capstone project, and your personal and professional growth over the course of your RN-to-BSN program. Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.

Introduction

Baccalaureate-prepared nurses have many opportunities to reflect on their contributions to patient care outcomes during clinical experiences. Research suggests that creating and sharing video reflections may enhance learning (Speed, Lucarelli, & Macaulay, 2018).

For this assessment, you’ll present your approved intervention to the patient, family, or group and reflect on various aspects of your capstone practicum experience. Such reflection will give you a chance to discuss elements of the project of which you are most proud and aspects of the experience that will help you grow in your personal practice and nursing career.

Reference

Speed, C. J., Lucarelli, G. A., & Macaulay, J. O. (2018). Student produced videos—An innovative and creative approach to assessment. Sciedu International Journal of Higher Education, 7(4).

Instructions

Complete this assessment in two parts: (a) present your approved intervention to the patient, family, or group and (b) record a video reflection on your practicum experience, the development of your capstone project, and your personal and professional growth over the course of your RN-to-BSN program.

Part 1

Present your approved intervention to the patient, family, or group. Plan to spend at least 3 practicum hours exploring these aspects of the problem with the patient, family, or group. During this time, you may also consult with subject matter and industry experts of your choice. Be sure you’ve logged all of your practicum hours in Capella Academic Portal.

The BSN Capstone Course (NURS-FPX4900 ) requires the completion and documentation of nine (9) practicum hours. All hours must be recorded in the Capella Academic Portal. Please review the BSN Practicum Campus page for more information and instructions on how to log your hours.

Use the Intervention Feedback Form: Assessment 5 [PDF] as a guide to capturing patient, family, or group feedback about your intervention. You’ll include the feedback as part of your capstone reflection video.

Part 2

Record a 10–15 minute video reflection on your practicum experience, the development of your capstone project, and your personal and professional growth over the course of your RN-to-BSN program. A transcript of your video is not required.

You’re welcome to use any tools and software with which you are comfortable, but make sure you’re able to submit the deliverable to your faculty. Capella offers Kaltura, a program that records audio and video. Refer to Using Kaltura for more information about this courseroom tool.

Note: If you require the use of assistive technology or alternative communication methods to participate in these activities, please contact DisabilityServices@Capella.edu to request accommodations. If you’re unable to record a video, please contact your faculty as soon as possible to explore options for completing the assessment.

Requirements

The assessment requirements, outlined below, correspond to the scoring guide criteria, so address each main point. Read the performance-level descriptions for each criterion to see how your work will be assessed. In addition, note the additional requirements for supporting evidence.

• • Assess the contribution of your intervention to patient or family satisfaction and quality of life.
    • Describe feedback received from the patient, family, or group on your intervention as a solution to the problem.
    • Explain how your intervention enhances the patient, family, or group experience.
  • Describe your use of evidence and peer-reviewed literature to plan and implement your capstone project.
    • Explain how the principles of evidence-based practice informed this aspect of your project.
  • Assess the degree to which you successfully leveraged health care technology in your capstone project to improve outcomes or communication with the patient, family, or group.
    • Identify opportunities to improve health care technology use in future practice.
  • Explain how health policy influenced the planning and implementation of your capstone project, as well as any contributions your project made to policy development.
    • Note specific observations related to the baccalaureate-prepared nurse’s role in policy implementation and development.
  • Explain whether capstone project outcomes matched your initial predictions.
    • Discuss the aspects of the project that met, exceeded, or fell short of your expectations.
    • Discuss whether your intervention can, or will be, adopted as a best practice.
    • Describe the generalizability of your intervention outside this particular setting.
    • Document the time spent (your practicum hours) with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Assess your personal and professional growth throughout your capstone project and the RN-to-BSN program.
    • Address your provision of ethical care and demonstration of professional standards.
    • Identify specific growth areas of which you are most proud or in which you have taken particular satisfaction.
  • Communicate professionally in a clear, audible, and well-organized video.

Additional Requirements

Cite at least three scholarly or authoritative sources to support your assertions. In addition to your reflection video, submit a separate APA-formatted reference list of your sources.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• • Competency 2: Make clinical and operational decisions based upon the best available evidence.
    • Describe one’s use of evidence and peer-reviewed literature to plan and implement a capstone project.
  • Competency 3: Transform processes to improve quality, enhance patient safety, and reduce the cost of care.
    • Explain whether capstone project outcomes matched one’s initial predictions and document the practicum hours spent with these individuals or group in the Capella Academic Portal Volunteer Experience Form.
  • Competency 4: Apply health information and patient care technology to improve patient and systems outcomes.
    • Assess the degree to which one successfully leveraged health care technology in a capstone project to improve outcomes or communication with a patient, family, or group.
  • Competency 5: Analyze the impact of health policy on quality and cost of care.
    • Explain how health policy influenced the planning and implementation of one’s capstone project, as well as any contributions the project made to policy development.
  • Competency 7: Implement patient-centered care to improve quality of care and the patient experience.
    • Assess the contribution of an intervention (capstone project) to patient, family, or group satisfaction and quality of life.
  • Competency 8: Integrate professional standards and values into practice.
    • Assess one’s personal and professional growth throughout a capstone project and the RN-to-BSN program.
    • Communicate professionally in a clear and well-organized video.