NR451 – Week 5: Evidence-Based Practice Change Project Paper

Institution: Chamberlain University College of Nursing

Course: NR451 – RN to BSN Capstone Course

Assignment Type: Written Paper | Length: 3–4 pages | Weight: 25% of final grade

Overview

The goal of this assessment is to apply principles of evidence-based practice to propose a change that improves patient outcomes or enhances nursing care quality. Students will identify a clinical issue within their workplace, evaluate supporting evidence, and develop a feasible change implementation plan aligned with current nursing standards.

Assignment Purpose

The assessment develops critical thinking and decision-making skills by linking research evidence to clinical improvement. It reinforces the RN-to-BSN program outcome of using evidence and research to improve health outcomes and nursing practices across diverse settings.

Assignment Instructions

1. Select a clinical or organizational problem that impacts patient care, such as infection prevention, patient falls, or medication safety.
2. Identify the practice gap and summarize evidence supporting a proposed change.
3. Describe the proposed EBP change intervention or practice improvement initiative.
4. Discuss stakeholder involvement, resource requirements, and potential barriers to implementation.
5. Summarize expected outcomes and how success will be measured through evaluation metrics.
6. Include at least four peer-reviewed references (published 2018–2026) to support your project.

Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Paper length: 3–4 double-spaced pages, excluding title and reference pages.
• APA 7th edition formatting required.
• Submit through the Week 5 assignment dropbox in Canvas.

Learning Objectives

• Apply evidence-based practice principles to a clinical or organizational issue.
• Evaluate research findings for quality and relevance to nursing practice.
• Develop an actionable EBP change proposal supported by scholarly literature.
• Communicate proposed interventions effectively using academic writing standards.

Grading Rubric

Criteria	Exemplary (90–100%)	Proficient (80–89%)	Developing (70–79%)	Needs Improvement (<70%)
Identification of Clinical Issue	Clearly identifies a relevant, evidence-based clinical issue with measurable impact on patient outcomes.	Identifies a relevant issue but lacks measurable detail or supporting evidence.	Describes a general issue without clear connection to EBP or outcomes.	Fails to identify a valid or relevant issue.
Application of Evidence-Based Practice	Applies high-quality research to justify a change proposal with excellent synthesis and integration.	Applies evidence effectively with moderate synthesis and clarity.	Uses limited or outdated evidence with weak justification.	Does not apply evidence appropriately to the proposal.
Implementation Plan and Feasibility	Presents a detailed, practical implementation plan addressing stakeholders, resources, and barriers.	Provides a clear but moderately detailed implementation plan.	Mentions implementation briefly without detail or feasibility considerations.	Omits implementation details or presents an unrealistic plan.
Use of Scholarly Sources	Integrates ≥4 recent peer-reviewed sources seamlessly.	Uses 3–4 credible sources with minor synthesis issues.	Uses minimal or outdated sources.	Relies on non-scholarly or irrelevant references.
Writing and APA Style	Writing is concise, scholarly, and coherent; flawless APA formatting.	Minor writing or APA formatting errors.	Frequent writing issues affecting clarity.	Disorganized or poorly formatted submission.

Improving hand hygiene compliance has a direct effect on hospital-acquired infection rates. Implementing electronic reminders at patient room entry points supports nurse compliance and decreases cross-contamination risks. Involving nurse champions and infection control committees helps reinforce accountability and sustainable behavior change (Huis et al., 2020).

References

1. Melnyk, B. M., & Fineout-Overholt, E. (2023). Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice (5th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://doi.org/10.1097/9781975185721
2. Huis, A., Hulscher, M., Adang, E., Grol, R., & van Achterberg, T. (2020). Cost-effectiveness of a team and leaders-directed strategy to improve nurses’ hand hygiene. American Journal of Infection Control, 48(9), 1045–1051. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.06.212
3. White, K. M., Dudley-Brown, S., & Terhaar, M. F. (2021). Translation of Evidence into Nursing and Health Care (3rd ed.). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1891/9780826151243
4. Schaffer, M. A., Sandau, K. E., & Diedrick, L. (2019). Evidence-based practice models for organizational change. Journal of Nursing Administration, 49(12), 623–629. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNA.0000000000000828