Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal for Improving Patient Outcomes

Assessment Context

Course Placement and Assessment Metadata

• Institutional Model: Capella University School of Nursing
• Program Levels: RN–BSN, MSN, DNP
• Course Example: NURS-FPX4030 / NURS-FPX5007 / NURS-FPX6011
• Assessment Type: FPX Assessment (Written Paper)
• Assessment Number: Assessment 2
• Length: 4–6 pages (1,200–1,500 words), excluding title page and references
• Referencing Style: APA 7th edition
• Submission Format: Word document

Assessment Description

This assessment requires development of an evidence-based practice (EBP) change proposal addressing a clearly defined clinical or organizational problem. Learners synthesize current research evidence and apply quality improvement principles to recommend a practice change that improves patient safety, outcomes, or care processes. The task reflects Capella’s competency-based focus on applied scholarship, systems thinking, and practice improvement.

Assessment Task

Select a nursing practice issue relevant to your current or past clinical setting and complete the following components.

1. Problem Identification
   • Describe the clinical or organizational problem.
   • Explain its impact on patient outcomes, staff performance, or healthcare costs.
2. Evidence Review
   • Summarize findings from at least three peer-reviewed research studies.
   • Identify best practices supported by the evidence.
3. Proposed Practice Change
   • Describe the recommended evidence-based intervention.
   • Explain how the change addresses the identified problem.
4. Implementation Considerations
   • Discuss barriers, facilitators, and stakeholder involvement.
   • Address ethical, cultural, and regulatory considerations.
5. Outcome Measures
   • Identify measurable outcomes to evaluate effectiveness.
   • Explain how success will be assessed.

Assignment Requirements

• Use a minimum of four peer-reviewed scholarly sources.
• Most sources must be published within the last five years.
• Integrate research evidence rather than describing articles separately.
• Follow APA 7 guidelines for formatting and citations.

Scoring Rubric

Criterion	Distinguished	Proficient	Basic	Non-Performance
Problem Identification	Clear, relevant, and well-supported	Adequately described	Vague or weakly supported	Not addressed
Evidence Synthesis	Strong integration of high-quality evidence	Appropriate use of evidence	Limited or superficial use	No scholarly evidence
Practice Change Proposal	Feasible and clearly linked to evidence	Generally appropriate	Weak alignment	Not proposed
Implementation and Outcomes	Comprehensive and realistic	Adequate discussion	Minimal detail	Missing
Academic Writing and APA	Clear, coherent, and error-free	Minor errors	Frequent errors	Unacceptable

Sample Answer Excerpt

Hospital-acquired falls remain a persistent safety concern in acute care settings and contribute to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. Evidence supports the use of multifactorial fall prevention programs that combine risk assessment, patient education, and environmental modification. Implementing standardized fall risk tools alongside hourly rounding has demonstrated measurable reductions in fall rates. Consistent staff engagement and leadership support are essential for sustaining practice change (AHRQ, 2022, https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/fall-prevention/toolkit/index.html).

 Peer-Reviewed References

• Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2019). Evidence-based practice in nursing and healthcare (4th ed.). Wolters Kluwer.
• Stevens, K. R. (2018). The impact of evidence-based practice in nursing. Journal of Nursing Administration, 48(5), 245–251. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000608
• White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S., & Terhaar, M. (2021). Translation of evidence into nursing and healthcare practice (3rd ed.). Springer.
• Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2022). Preventing falls in hospitals. https://www.ahrq.gov/patient-safety/settings/hospital/fall-prevention/toolkit/index.html

Potential Titles

• Capella FPX Evidence-Based Practice Change Proposal Example
• Evidence-Based Practice Change
• EBP Change Proposal Nursing Paper
• Proposing Practice Change in Nursing Care

Meta Descriptions

Word-count version: Write a 1,200–1,500-word FPX assessment proposing an evidence-based practice change to improve patient outcomes.

Page-length version: Submit a 4–6 page paper developing an evidence-based nursing practice change proposal.

Keywords

Capella FPX assessment, evidence-based practice nursing paper, nursing change proposal, Capella nursing rubric, EBP assignment nursing, quality improvement nursing paper