NURS-FPX 4030: Making Evidence-Based Decisions – Assessment 1

Assessment 1: Locating Credible Databases and Research

Weighting: 20%

Length: 2–4 pages (excluding title and reference pages)

Format: APA 7th Edition Professional Paper

Course Level: BSN (FlexPath)

Due Date: Flexible (Suggested: Week 1-2)

I. Assessment Context

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is the standard for high-quality nursing care. To make sound clinical decisions, you must be able to navigate the professional literature and distinguish between high-quality research and biased or unreliable information. This assessment focuses on your ability to locate credible databases, select a relevant clinical research article, and evaluate that article using established criteria for scientific rigor and clinical applicability.

II. Task Description

You must produce a formal report that demonstrates your proficiency in researching a specific clinical issue. You are expected to select a common nursing problem (such as medication errors, patient falls, or pressure injury prevention) and find one peer-reviewed journal article that addresses this issue. Your report must detail your search process and justify why the selected source is appropriate for clinical decision-making.

Section 1: The Clinical Issue and Communication Strategies

• Identify a specific clinical health care issue that requires evidence-based intervention.
• Describe how you would communicate the importance of researching this issue to a newly graduated nurse.
• Explain strategies for interprofessional collaboration that encourage the sharing of research findings within a clinical team.

Section 2: Database Selection and Search Process

• Identify the specific academic databases (e.g., CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Library) you used to find your evidence.
• Explain why these databases are superior to general internet searches for professional nursing practice.
• Detail the search terms or keywords used to narrow your results to the most relevant studies.

Section 3: Evaluation of Source Credibility

• Select one peer-reviewed article and explain why it provides the best evidence for your chosen topic.
• Evaluate the source using the CRAAP model (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) or a similar evidence-based framework.
• Discuss the role of the baccalaureate-prepared nurse in interpreting and applying this research at the bedside.

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III. Submission Requirements

• Tone: Direct, scholarly, and professional. Avoid first-person “I” statements where possible.
• Sources: Cite the selected journal article and at least two additional scholarly sources regarding evidence-based practice.
• Formatting: Use standard 1-inch margins, 12pt Times New Roman font, and double-spacing.

IV. Scoring Rubric / Marking Criteria

Criteria	Distinguished	Proficient	Basic	Non-Performance
Communication Strategies (25%)	Evaluates sophisticated communication and collaboration strategies to promote research and interprofessional buy-in.	Describes strategies to encourage research and collaborate on resource access.	Lists communication methods but lacks depth in collaborative application.	Does not address communication or collaboration.
Database Identification (25%)	Provides a rigorous justification for the selection of specific professional databases over general search engines.	Identifies appropriate databases and explains their value for research.	Identifies databases but fails to explain why they are used.	Does not identify professional databases.
Source Credibility & Evaluation (30%)	Synthesizes research findings to justify evidence selection using a recognized framework like CRAAP.	Explains the criteria used to determine the credibility of the selected source.	Identifies a source but the evaluation of credibility is superficial.	Does not evaluate source credibility.
APA and Writing (20%)	Drafts a flawless document with complex logical flow and perfect APA 7th edition compliance.	Writing is clear and organized with minimal APA formatting errors.	Writing contains errors in grammar or APA style that hinder readability.	Fails to meet basic academic writing standards.

V.

Clinicians who prioritize the use of academic databases for sourcing clinical evidence directly enhance the safety and effectiveness of patient care. Selecting peer-reviewed literature from reputable repositories ensures that nursing interventions remain grounded in rigorous scientific inquiry. Research indicates that systematic implementation of evidence-based protocols can significantly decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections within surgical units (Melnyk et al., 2021). Mastery of information literacy skills allows baccalaureate-prepared nurses to distinguish between credible scientific data and anecdotal health information found on the open web.

Learning Materials and Resources

• Cullen, L., Hanrahan, K., Edmonds, S.W., Reising, D.L. and Tucker, S. (2022) Evidence-Based Practice in Action: Comprehensive Strategies, Tools, and Tips From University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. 2nd edn. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
• Grove, S.K. and Gray, J.R. (2022) Understanding Nursing Research: Building an Evidence-Based Practice. 8th edn. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
• Melnyk, B.M., Gallagher-Ford, L. and Fineout-Overholt, E. (2021) ‘The Evidence-Based Practice National Competencies for Nurses in Real-World Clinical Settings’, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 18(4), pp. 240–242. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12519.
• Melnyk, B.M. and Fineout-Overholt, E. (2022) Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. 5th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
• Sipes, C. (2025) Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Foundations and Applications for the Advanced Practice Nurse. 3rd edn. New York, NY: Springer Publishing.

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NURS-FPX 4030: Making Evidence-Based Decisions – Assessment 2 Brief

Assessment 2: Determining the Credibility of Evidence and Resources

Weighting: 25%

Length: 2–4 pages (excluding title and reference pages)

Format: APA 7th Edition Professional Paper

Course Level: BSN (FlexPath)

Due Date: Flexible (Suggested: Week 4)

I. Assessment Context

Nurses must move beyond simply finding information to rigorously vetting the data that informs clinical practice. This assessment builds upon the database search skills developed in Assessment 1 by requiring a critical evaluation of specific resources. You will apply a standardized evaluative framework to determine if a source is high-quality evidence or if it contains biases and inaccuracies that could compromise patient safety. Mastery of this skill ensures that the interventions you propose are supported by the most current and authoritative scientific findings.

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II. Task Description

For this assignment, you will write a report that analyzes the credibility and relevance of at least three specific resources (journal articles or professional websites) related to a chosen clinical issue or diagnosis. You must justify your selection using objective criteria and explain how these resources integrate into an established evidence-based practice (EBP) model.

Section 1: Clinical Problem Overview

• Identify a specific clinical health care issue (e.g., Fall Prevention, Pressure Injury Management, or Surgical Site Infection) that would benefit from an EBP approach.
• Briefly describe the significance of this issue in your current practice setting or within the provided Vila Health scenario.

Section 2: Criteria for Determining Credibility

• Describe the specific criteria used to evaluate the credibility of resources, such as the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose).
• Explain why evaluating both websites and peer-reviewed journals is necessary for a balanced evidence review.
• Support your explanation with references to literature that discusses the standards of scientific rigor.

Section 3: Analysis of Resources

• Analyze the credibility and relevance of three specific resources (at least two must be peer-reviewed journal articles).
• For each resource, explicitly state how it meets your chosen criteria (e.g., date of publication, author credentials, and lack of commercial bias).
• Determine which of the three sources provides the strongest evidence for clinical decision-making and explain why.

Section 4: Integration with an EBP Model

• Explain how these credible resources would be used within a specific EBP model, such as the Iowa Model or the Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice (JHNEBP) Model.
• Discuss how incorporating high-quality evidence into these models leads to improved patient outcomes and organizational safety.

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III. Scoring Rubric / Marking Criteria

Criteria	Distinguished	Proficient	Basic	Non-Performance
Credibility Criteria Explanation (25%)	Evaluates scholarly criteria for determining resource credibility and justifies their importance with advanced literature support.	Explains criteria used to determine the credibility of journal articles and websites.	Identifies criteria but provides a limited explanation of their application.	Does not explain credibility criteria.
Resource Analysis (30%)	Critically analyzes the credibility and relevance of three specific resources, providing a definitive rationale for the best source.	Analyzes the credibility and relevance of three specific resources within the context of the clinical issue.	Analyzes fewer than three resources or provides a superficial assessment.	Does not analyze specific resources.
EBP Model Integration (25%)	Synthesizes the importance of credible evidence within a specific EBP model to drive clinical change and safety.	Explains the importance of incorporating credible evidence into an EBP model.	Mentions an EBP model but lacks a clear connection to evidence credibility.	Does not discuss EBP models.
APA and Professionalism (20%)	Writing is authoritative and precisely formatted in APA 7th edition with no errors.	Writing is professional and mostly follows APA formatting guidelines.	Multiple errors in grammar, tone, or APA formatting.	Unprofessional writing or lack of formatting.

IV.

Professional nurses utilize the CRAAP framework to filter out anecdotal data and prioritize high-level scientific evidence for clinical interventions. Rigorous assessment of author credentials and publication dates ensures that bedside practices reflect the most current safety standards. Organizations that adopt the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice facilitate a structured transition from research discovery to sustainable bedside application. Validating the accuracy of clinical guidelines from authoritative bodies such as the CDC or specialty nursing associations prevents the propagation of outdated or biased care protocols (Melnyk et al., 2021). Interprofessional teams rely on these vetted resources to standardize workflows and reduce the variability that often leads to adverse patient events.

Learning Materials and Resources

• Cullen, L., Hanrahan, K., Edmonds, S. W., Reising, D. L. and Tucker, S. (2022) Evidence-Based Practice in Action: Comprehensive Strategies, Tools, and Tips From University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. 2nd edn. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
• Dang, D., Dearholt, S. L., Bissett, K., Ascenzi, J. and Whalen, M. (2022) Johns Hopkins Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals: Model and Guidelines. 4th edn. Indianapolis, IN: Sigma Theta Tau International.
• Melnyk, B. M. and Fineout-Overholt, E. (2022) Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing & Healthcare: A Guide to Best Practice. 5th edn. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer.
• Melnyk, B. M., Gallagher-Ford, L. and Fineout-Overholt, E. (2021) ‘The Evidence-Based Practice National Competencies for Nurses in Real-World Clinical Settings’, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 18(4), pp. 240–242. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12519.
• Olsen, J. M. and Harlow, K. C. (2022) ‘Strategies for Evaluating Information Credibility in the Digital Age’, Nursing Education Perspectives, 43(2), pp. 125–127. doi: 10.1097/01.NEP.0000000000000912.

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NURS-FPX 4030: Making Evidence-Based Decisions – Assessment 3 Brief

Assessment 3: PICO(T) Questions and an Evidence-Based Approach

Weighting: 25%

Length: 3–5 pages (excluding title and reference pages)

Format: APA 7th Edition Professional Paper

Course Level: BSN (FlexPath)

Due Date: Flexible (Suggested: Week 6)

I. Assessment Context

Precision in clinical inquiry is a prerequisite for effective evidence-based practice. This assessment requires the application of the PICO(T) framework to a self-selected healthcare problem. The objective is to transition from a broad clinical concern to a searchable, structured research question that facilitates the acquisition of high-level evidence. You must demonstrate the ability to not only formulate the question but also to synthesize findings from professional literature to inform bedside decision-making and improve patient outcomes.

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II. Task Description

Identify a significant nursing or healthcare issue from your practice and use the PICO(T) process to investigate potential interventions. You are required to document the formulation of your question, detail the evidence search, and analyze the most pertinent research findings. Your report must conclude with a clear explanation of how this evidence influences clinical practice decisions.

Section 1: Healthcare Practice Issue and PICO(T) Question

• Identify a specific clinical issue (e.g., catheter-associated urinary tract infections, fall prevention in geriatrics, or diabetes self-management).
• Provide a brief rationale for why this issue is a priority for evidence-based change.
• Develop a formal PICO(T) question using all five components:
  1. P: Patient, Population, or Problem
  2. I: Intervention or Exposure
  3. C: Comparison or Control
  4. O: Outcome(s)
  5. T: Timeframe (where applicable)

Section 2: Identification of Evidence Sources

• Identify at least four scholarly or professional sources relevant to your PICO(T) question.
• Justify the selection of these sources by describing the search strategy and the databases used (e.g., CINAHL, PubMed).
• Apply the CRAAP test (Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose) to demonstrate why these specific articles represent the highest quality evidence available.

Section 3: Analysis of Findings

• Select the two most relevant articles and summarize their key findings.
• Interpret the data presented in these studies, focusing on how the results directly address the intervention and comparison components of your PICO(T) question.
• Discuss the limitations or strengths of the methodology used in your selected sources.

Section 4: Decision-Making and Practice Application

• Explain how the research findings would be used to make a clinical decision regarding the identified issue.
• Describe the potential impact of implementing these evidence-based changes on patient safety, organizational efficiency, or healthcare costs.

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III. Scoring Rubric / Marking Criteria

Criteria	Distinguished	Proficient	Basic	Non-Performance
PICO(T) Question Development (30%)	Constructs a flawless PICO(T) question that is specific, measurable, and highly relevant to a complex practice issue.	Develops a PICO(T)-formatted research question that addresses a practice issue.	Formulates a question that is missing one or more PICO(T) components.	Fails to develop a PICO(T