Nursing leadership evidence assignment: Evidence‑based nursing leadership

Nursing Leadership and Evidence-Based Practice – Discussion and Essay Assessment

Unit context

This assessment brief is designed for upper-division or RN-to-BSN nursing courses focused on professional practice, leadership, and evidence-based care in universities such as ASU and GCU. It mirrors typical online and hybrid course structures that combine weekly graded discussions, applied written assignments, and clear rubrics for evaluating critical thinking, communication, and use of evidence.

Use this brief as a model for planning nursing discussions and essays that align with university-level expectations for scholarly writing, professional reflection, and practice-focused application of current research in leadership and evidence-based practice.

Assessment overview

This assessment sequence includes a weekly graded discussion (Part A) and a short evidence-based leadership paper (Part B). Together, they assess your ability to analyse practice issues, communicate clearly in professional dialogue, and apply research to improve patient outcomes and team performance.

Part A – Online Discussion and Peer Responses (approximately 300–500 words initial post plus replies each week)
Part B – Evidence-Based Leadership Paper (1,050–1,400-word essay)

Part A: Weekly Discussion Post and Peer Responses

Purpose

The weekly discussion develops your ability to think critically about leadership, ethics, and evidence-based practice, while communicating professionally with peers in an online environment. You will practise integrating research, course concepts, and personal experience to address clinical and organisational challenges.

General instructions

Review the assigned readings and media for the week before posting.
Respond to the discussion prompt in an initial post of 300–500 words, using at least one current scholarly citation (2018–2025) and one relevant course or professional source (for example, ANA, AACN, or a state board).
Post your initial response by Day 3 of the discussion week.
Reply to at least two peers in separate responses of 150–200 words each by Day 7, adding new insights, questions, or contrasting perspectives rather than simple agreement.
Write in a professional, courteous tone, and avoid disclosing identifiable patient information.

Example weekly prompt

Identify a specific practice issue in your current or recent clinical setting that could be improved through stronger nursing leadership and evidence-based practice (for example, handoff communication, fall prevention, or medication reconciliation). Briefly describe the issue and its impact on patients, staff, or workflow. Explain which leadership style or behaviours you believe would be most effective in addressing this problem, and how you would use current research to support change. Include at least one peer-reviewed article to justify your approach.

Discussion marking criteria

Critical thinking and application
Addresses all parts of the prompt and demonstrates clear, logical reasoning.
Connects course concepts and evidence to real or realistic practice situations.

Use of evidence
Integrates current scholarly sources (2018–2025) that are relevant, credible, and correctly cited.
Links evidence directly to recommendations or reflections.

Professional communication
Uses clear, organised writing with appropriate academic tone and respectful engagement with peers.
Demonstrates attentive listening in responses by acknowledging peers’ points and extending the discussion.

Engagement and timeliness
Posts the initial response and peer replies by required deadlines.
Contributes substantively to ongoing discussion rather than posting at the last minute.

Part B: Evidence-Based Nursing Leadership Paper (1,050–1,400 words)

Purpose

The leadership paper allows you to examine a practice problem in depth and propose an evidence-based strategy for improvement, using principles of nursing leadership and change management common to ASU and GCU undergraduate and RN-to-BSN curricula. You will demonstrate your ability to locate, appraise, and apply research to a real or plausible clinical scenario.

Task description

Select a practice issue
Choose one priority issue from your clinical experience (for example, high rates of patient falls, inconsistent pressure injury prevention, or poor interprofessional communication).
Ensure the issue is specific enough to analyse within the word limit.

Describe the context
Briefly outline the clinical setting (for example, medical-surgical unit, community clinic, long-term care) and the population affected.
Summarise relevant organisational policies or standards that shape current practice.

Synthesise the evidence
Search for at least three recent peer-reviewed studies (2018–2025) that address the chosen problem and relate to nursing interventions, leadership, or implementation strategies.
Summarise the key findings and implications for practice in your own words.

Apply leadership and change concepts
Identify a leadership approach (for example, transformational, authentic, or situational leadership) that fits the problem and context.
Explain how specific leadership behaviours (such as role modelling, coaching, or shared decision-making) can support the adoption of evidence-based interventions.

Develop an implementation plan
Outline three to five concrete steps to introduce or strengthen an evidence-based practice related to your issue.
Address potential barriers (for example, staffing, resistance to change, resource constraints) and propose feasible strategies to manage them.

Evaluate outcomes
Identify measurable indicators (for example, falls per 1,000 patient days, time to first pain medication, staff satisfaction scores) you would track to determine whether your intervention is effective.
Describe how you would monitor, report, and adjust the plan over time.

Length and formatting

Length: 1,050–1,400 words (excluding title page and references).
Format: academic essay with clear headings, double-spaced text, and standard font.
Referencing: APA style for in-text citations and reference list, following current university guidelines.

Marking criteria (Part B)

Problem definition and context
Defines a focused, clinically relevant issue and situates it clearly within a real or plausible setting.

Use of research and evidence
Integrates current, high-quality evidence to explain the problem and support proposed changes.
Shows accurate understanding of research findings without overstatement.

Leadership and change analysis
Applies leadership theories or concepts appropriately to the selected issue.
Demonstrates insight into how nursing leadership behaviours can influence outcomes.

Implementation planning and evaluation
Provides a realistic, stepwise plan for implementing evidence-based practice.
Identifies meaningful outcome measures and describes how they would be monitored.

Academic writing and APA style
Organises ideas logically, with clear paragraphs and precise language.
Uses accurate APA formatting and credible, recent sources.

This nursing leadership and evidence-based practice assignment brief reflects how ASU- and GCU-style RN-to-BSN and BSN courses structure online discussions, peer replies, and short applied essays that connect research to practice. Use this model to shape nursing assignments that highlight leadership behaviours, integrate current evidence, and present a clear, practical plan for improving patient outcomes and team performance in real clinical settings.

Peer-reviewed references

Boamah, SA, Laschinger, HKS, Wong, C & Clarke, S 2018, ‘Effect of transformational leadership on job satisfaction and patient safety outcomes’, Nursing Outlook, vol. 66, no. 2, pp. 180–189, doi:10.1016/j.outlook.2017.10.004.
Kelly, LA, Wicker, TL & Gerkin, RD 2020, ‘The impact of nurse leader behaviors on staff nurse burnout, job satisfaction, and intention to leave’, Journal of Nursing Administration, vol. 50, no. 11, pp. 571–577, doi:10.1097/NNA.0000000000000941.
Melnyk, BM, Gallagher-Ford, L, Long, LE & Fineout-Overholt, E 2019, ‘The establishment of evidence-based practice competencies for practicing registered nurses and advanced practice nurses in real-world clinical settings’, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 5–15, doi:10.1111/wvn.12352.
Slåtten, T, Mutonyi, BR & Lien, G 2022, ‘Empowering leadership, work engagement, and patient safety culture among nurses’, BMC Health Services Research, vol. 22, no. 1, 311, doi:10.1186/s12913-022-07695-2.
Wong, CA, Cummings, GG & Ducharme, L 2018, ‘The relationship between nursing leadership and patient outcomes: a systematic review update’, Journal of Nursing Management, vol. 26, no. 5, pp. 356–372, doi:10.1111/jonm.12508.