Assessment Brief: Leadership in Evidence-Based Practice for Managing Long-Term Conditions

Module: HLST273/HLST280 – Leadership, Evidence-Based Practice, Public Health, Long-Term Conditions, and Service Improvement

This assignment encourages you to explore how effective leadership can drive evidence-based practice in the care of patients with long-term conditions. You will examine real-world applications, drawing on current research and guidelines to propose ways to improve services.

Nursing leadership plays a key role in integrating evidence-based approaches into daily practice, especially for chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, or COPD. Service improvement initiatives, supported by strong leadership, help enhance patient outcomes and public health efforts.

Assignment Type

Written Essay (or Case Study Analysis)

Word Count

2,500 words (±10%)

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Critically evaluate the role of leadership in promoting evidence-based nursing practice.
• Analyze the application of evidence-based interventions in managing long-term conditions.
• Discuss strategies for service improvement in public health and chronic care settings.
• Demonstrate understanding of how leadership influences organizational change and patient outcomes.

Assignment Task

Write a 2,500-word essay that addresses the following:

1. Introduce the importance of evidence-based practice in nursing leadership, particularly for patients with long-term conditions.
2. Critically discuss key leadership styles or approaches that support the implementation of evidence-based practice (e.g., transformational leadership, adaptive strategies).
3. Using examples from current literature, evaluate how evidence-based leadership impacts service improvement in managing chronic diseases, such as reducing hospital admissions or enhancing self-management.
4. Propose practical recommendations for nurse leaders to overcome barriers (e.g., resource constraints, staff resistance) and promote sustainable change in public health or clinical settings.
5. Conclude with reflections on the broader implications for nursing practice and patient care.

Assessment Criteria

• Knowledge and Understanding (30%): Depth of insight into leadership, evidence-based practice, and long-term conditions management.
• Critical Analysis (30%): Evaluation of evidence, theories, and real-world applications.
• Application to Practice (20%): Relevance of recommendations for service improvement.
• Structure and Presentation (10%): Clear organization, academic writing style, and adherence to guidelines.
• Referencing (10%): Use of Harvard style with a minimum of 15 credible sources.

Submission Guidelines

Submit via the online portal by the deadline. Include a title page, contents page, and reference list. Use 12-point Arial font, double-spaced.

This assessment brief for nursing leadership and evidence-based practice in long-term conditions management provides essential guidelines for assignments. Students searching for similar module tasks in public health nursing or service improvement will find this structure helpful for essays and case studies. High-quality referencing and critical analysis are key to success in health sciences coursework.

References

Dwyer, T., Craswell, A., Rossi, D. and Holleran, K. (2024) ‘The impact of evidence-based nursing leadership in healthcare settings: a mixed methods systematic review’, BMC Nursing, 23(452). doi:10.1186/s12912-024-02096-4.

Geerts, J.M., Kinnair, D., Taunton, E., et al. (2021) ‘Measured and perceived impacts of evidence-based leadership in nursing: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol’, BMJ Open, 11(10). doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-049759.

Harvey, G. and Kitson, A. (2023) ‘The role of nursing leadership in promoting evidence-based nursing practice’, Journal of Professional Nursing, 48, pp. 1-6. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2023.06.005.

Carryer, J. and Yarwood, J. (2025) ‘Leading evidence-based practice: nurse managers’ strategies for knowledge utilisation in acute care settings’, BMC Nursing, 24(2912). doi:10.1186/s12912-025-02912-5.

Melnyk, B.M., Gallagher-Ford, L., Zellefrow, C., Tucker, S., Thomas, B., Sinnott, L.T. and Tan, A. (2018, updated 2023) ‘The first U.S. study on nurses’ evidence-based practice competencies indicates major deficits that threaten healthcare quality, safety, patient outcomes, and costs’, Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing, 15(1), pp. 16-25. doi:10.1111/wvn.12269.