BSN Evidence-Based Practice Project: Implementing Change in Nursing Care

Course Information

This assignment is part of the BSN program at Walden University, specifically for the course NURS 4005: Topics in Clinical Nursing. It serves as Assessment 2 and contributes 30% to the final grade. The due date is Week 8 of the Spring 2026 semester.

Overview

In this project, you will develop an evidence-based practice (EBP) initiative aimed at improving patient outcomes in a clinical setting. Drawing from current research, you will identify a nursing practice issue, formulate a PICO question, and propose an implementation plan. This assignment builds your skills in integrating research into everyday nursing practice, preparing you for leadership roles in healthcare.

Learning Outcomes

• Apply the principles of evidence-based practice to address a clinical problem.
• Develop a PICO question based on a relevant nursing issue.
• Analyze scholarly sources to support proposed changes in nursing care.
• Create an implementation and evaluation plan for an EBP intervention.
• Demonstrate professional communication through a structured written report.

Assignment Instructions

Select a clinical nursing problem from your experience or observations, such as reducing medication errors, improving patient handoff communication, or enhancing pain management protocols. Use the Iowa Model or a similar framework to guide your project. Your submission should be a 5-7page paper, formatted in APA 7th edition style, including a title page, abstract, and references.

1. Introduce the clinical problem and its significance to nursing practice.
2. Formulate a PICO(T) question (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Timeframe).
3. Conduct a literature search and summarize at least five peer-reviewed articles published within the last five years.
4. Propose an evidence-based intervention, including steps for implementation.
5. Outline an evaluation method, such as pre- and post-intervention surveys or outcome metrics.
6. Discuss potential barriers, ethical considerations, and sustainability of the change.

Submission Guidelines

Submit your paper via the course learning management system by the deadline. Late submissions will incur a 10% penalty per day. Ensure your work is original; plagiarism checks will be performed. Include a minimum of five scholarly references.

Grading Rubric/Marking Criteria

The rubric below outlines the criteria for evaluation. Total points: 100.

• Introduction and Problem Identification (15 points): Clearly describes the issue and its relevance; supported by data or examples.
• PICO Question (10 points): Well-formulated and directly tied to the problem.
• Literature Review (25 points): Comprehensive summary of sources; demonstrates critical analysis.
• Intervention Proposal (20 points): Detailed, feasible plan with evidence-based rationale.
• Evaluation and Barriers (15 points): Includes measurable outcomes and thoughtful discussion of challenges.
• APA Formatting and Writing Quality (15 points): Adheres to style guidelines; clear, concise, and error-free.

 Nurses often face challenges in managing patient falls in acute care settings, where evidence suggests multifactorial interventions can reduce incidents by up to 30%. A targeted EBP project might involve implementing bedside alarms combined with hourly rounding, drawing from studies in the Journal of Clinical Nursing. Initial assessments showed a baseline fall rate of 4 per 1,000 patient days, with post-implementation data indicating a decline after staff training sessions.

References

1. Polit, D.F. and Beck, C.T., 2021. Nursing research: Generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice. 11th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. Available at: https://books.google.com/books?id=example (Accessed: 19 January 2026).
2. Melnyk, B.M. and Fineout-Overholt, E., 2019. Evidence-based practice in nursing & healthcare: A guide to best practice. 4th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. DOI: 10.1097/NND.0000000000000524.
3. Titler, M.G., 2018. Iowa model of evidence-based practice. In: Models and frameworks for implementing evidence-based practice. London: Sigma Theta Tau International, pp. 137-144. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK2659/.
4. Hughes, R.G. ed., 2022. Patient safety and quality: An evidence-based handbook for nurses. Rockville, MD: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15000.
5. Dang, D. and Dearholt, S.L., 2022. Johns Hopkins nursing evidence-based practice: Model and guidelines. 4th ed. Indianapolis: Sigma Theta Tau International. Available at: https://www.sigmanursing.org/why-sigma/sigma-publications/sigma-books/johns-hopkins-evidence-based-practice-for-nurses-and-healthcare-professionals-model-and-guidelines-fourth-edition (Accessed: 19 January 2026).