Ashford University Capstone Project Paper

Ashford University Capstone Project Paper

Ashford University Capstone Project Paper

In collaboration with the approved course preceptor, students will identify a specific evidence-based topic for the capstone project change proposal. Students should consider the clinical environment in which they are currently employed or have recently worked. The capstone project topic can be a clinical practice problem, an organizational issue, a leadership or quality improvement initiative, or an unmet educational need specific to a patient population or community. The student may also choose to work with an interprofessional collaborative team. Ashford University Capstone Project Paper

The Topic will be increasing fall in my organization (St. Joseph Medical Center ). I will include additional details

Students should select a topic that aligns to their area of interest as well as the clinical practice setting in which practice hours are completed.

Write a 500-750 word description of your proposed capstone project topic. Include the following:

The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal.

The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed.

A description (providing a high level of detail) regarding the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project.

Effect of the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project.

Significance of the topic and its implications for nursing practice.

A proposed solution to the identified project topic with an explanation of how it will affect nursing practice.

You are required to cite to a minimum of eight peer-reviewed sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years, appropriate for the assignment criteria, and relevant to nursing practice. Plan your time accordingly to complete this assignment.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

NRS 493 Capstone Project Topic Selection and Approval

Hospital falls have become a popular occurrence in hospitals with respect to inpatient patients. In the recent past, this hazard has become increasingly difficult to fight especially with the significant decrease in the amount of time nurses get to spend time at the bedside of their patients (Thompson, Cullum, McCaughan, Sheldon, & Raynor, 2004) Ashford University Capstone Project Paper.

The Setting

Occurrences of hospital falls have increased at the bedside of patients and also in the bathrooms. From time to time, patients trying to get of their beds are unable to do this therefore end up falling in the process. In other incidents, patients using the bathroom often fall as a result of the slippery floor and their instability as a result of heavy sedation or general body weakness (Taylor, 2012).

The Problem, Issue, Suggestion, Initiative, or Education Need

It is noteworthy that this problem majorly affects elderly patients who are 65 years of age and older. A significant contributing factor to this is that elderly patients possibly have weak bone structures as a result of age hence their general weakness, often resulting to falling while in the hospital (Thomas & Mackintosh, 2015).  In addition to this, a decrease in the time nurses gets to spend with patients deprive nurses the opportunity to monitor patients in order to reduce falls. In other cases, patients are heavily sedated contributing to their poor balancing, a state that significantly increases chances of falling.

Impact on Work Environment, Quality of Care, and Patient Outcomes

The consequences as a result of patient falls in hospitals are far reaching, not only affecting patient outcomes, but also the hospital work environment and the quality of care provided to patients. Taking a look at the effects of falls on patient outcomes, hospital falls have been an inhibiting factor to fast recovery of patients in hospitals. In this regard, patients who are victims of falls often end up being injured contributing to their health problems (Singh, Okeke, & Edwards, 2015). For example, patients who have recently undergone surgery fall and get injured in the specific wounds before the wounds heal.

This prolongs their recovery time hence lengthening their stay in the hospital. Shifting gears to quality of care provided, hospital falls are a subtracting factor to quality of care given to patients in hospitals. Hospital falls are a pointer of lack of safety for inpatients. This significantly affects the reputation of hospitals with high number of falls (Franck et al., 2017). The effects of hospital falls on work environment are centered on the compromise of patient safety during their stay in the hospital. Pertinent to this, the work environment is rendered unsafe for patients having in mind that there is a high potential for patients to fall (Tzeng, Titler, Ronis, & Yin, 2012).

Implications to Nursing

Hospital falls impact a strain to nurses, significantly affecting the nursing profession. Keeping in mind that nurses are mandated to take care of patients, such accidents are a demeaning factor to the nursing profession. With that, nurses are seen to deliver poor services demonstrating incompetency in their work (Araújo et al., 2017).

Conclusion

 Though there are no distinct recommendations to curtail falls, there are preventive measures that can be upheld and reduce these occurrences. One of the ways is to conduct comprehensive staff training on how to reduce chances of hospital falls. Secondly, layout of bathrooms and the entire hospital environment ought to be designed in such a way that there is decreased probability of a fall occurring. These measures can be effective in reducing falls (Babine et al., 2016).

References

Babine, R. L., Hyrkäs, K. E., Bachand, D. A., Chapman, J. L., Fuller, V. J., Honess, C. A., & Wierman, H. R. (2016). Falls in a tertiary care hospital—Association with delirium: A replication study. Psychosomatics57(3), 273-282. doi:10.1016/j.psym.2016.01.003

Thomas, S., & Mackintosh, S. (2015). Improvement of physical therapist assessment of risk of falls in the hospital and discharge handover through an intervention to modify clinical behavior. Physical Therapy96(6), 764-773. doi:10.2522/ptj.20150215

Thompson, C., Cullum, N., McCaughan, D., Sheldon, T., & Raynor, P. (2004). Nurses, information use, and clinical decision making–the real world potential for evidence-based decisions in nursing. Evidence-Based Nursing7(3), 68-72. doi:10.1136/ebn.7.3.68

Singh, I., Okeke, J., & Edwards, C. (2015). Outcome of in-patient falls in hospitals with 100% single rooms and multi-bedded wards. Age and Ageing44(6), 1032-1035. doi:10.1093/ageing/afv124

Franck, L. S., Gay, C. L., Cooper, B., Ezrre, S., Murphy, B., Chan, J. S., … Meer, C. R. (2017). The Little Schmidy Pediatric Hospital Fall Risk Assessment Index: A diagnostic accuracy study. International Journal of Nursing Studies68, 51-59. doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.12.011

Tzeng, H., Titler, M. G., Ronis, D. L., & Yin, C. (2012). The contribution of staff call light response time to fall and injurious fall rates: an exploratory study in four US hospitals using archived hospital data. BMC Health Services Research12(1). doi:10.1186/1472-6963-12-84

Taylor, R. (2012). Using and developing the evidence base in primary health care. Primary Health Care22(1), 31-36. doi:10.7748/phc2012.02.22.1.31.c8916 Ashford University Capstone Project Paper

Araújo, J. N., Fernandes, A. P., Moura, L. A., Santos, M. M., Ferreira Júnior, M. A., & Vitor, A. F. (2017). Validation of nursing outcome content Fall prevention behavior in a hospital environment. Revista da Rede de Enfermagem do Nordeste18(3), 337. doi:10.15253/2175-6783.2017000300008

Course Code Class Code Assignment Title Total Points
NRS-493 NRS-493-O503 Capstone Project Topic Selection and Approval 60.0
Criteria Percentage Unsatisfactory (0.00%) Less Than Satisfactory (75.00%) Satisfactory (79.00%) Good (89.00%) Excellent (100.00%) Comments Points Earned
Content 80.0%
Project Topic for Focus of Change Proposal 5.0% The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal is omitted. Ashford University Capstone Project Paper The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal is presented but is largely incomplete. The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal is summarized. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal is presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. The problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project that will be the focus of the change proposal is clearly and logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Setting or Context Where Project Topic Is Observed 10.0% The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed is omitted. The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed is presented but is largely incomplete. The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed is summarized. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed is presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. The setting or context in which the problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project can be observed is logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Detailed Description of Project Topic 15.0% A description of the project topic is omitted. A description of the project topic is presented but is largely incomplete. A description of the project topic is presented. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. A description of the project topic is presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. A detailed description of the project topic is clearly and logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Effect of Identified Problem or Issue 15.0% Effect of the identified problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project is omitted. Effect of the identified problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project is presented but is largely incomplete. Effect of the identified problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project is summarized. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. Effect of the identified problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project is presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. Effect of the identified problem or issue, intervention, quality initiative, educational need, or collaborative interprofessional team project is clearly and logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Topic Significance and Implications for Nursing Practice 15.0% Significance of topic and its implications for nursing practice is omitted. Topic is presented but criteria are incomplete. Topic and most criteria are presented. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. Topic and criteria are presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. Topic and criteria are clearly and logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Proposed Solution for Identified Project Topic and Implications for Nursing Practice 15.0% A proposed solution to the identified project topic with an explanation of how it will affect nursing practice is omitted. Topic is presented but criteria are incomplete. Ashford University Capstone Project Paper Topic and most criteria are presented. There are some omissions or inaccuracies. Some support is needed. Topic and criteria are presented. Minor aspects are unclear or require support. Topic and criteria are clearly and logically presented. Support and rationale are evident.
Peer-Reviewed Articles 5.0% Fewer than six peer-reviewed articles are presented. Fewer than seven peer-reviewed articles are presented. Overall, only five articles meet the assignment criteria. Eight peer-reviewed articles are presented. Overall, only six articles meet the assignment criteria. Eight peer-reviewed articles are presented. Overall, only seven articles meet the assignment criteria. Eight peer-reviewed articles are presented, and each article clearly meets the assignment criteria.
Organization, Effectiveness, and Format 20.0%
Thesis Development and Purpose 5.0% Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim. Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear. Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose. Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose. Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
Argument Logic and Construction 5.0% Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources. Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility. Argument is orderly but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis. Ashford University Capstone Project Paper Argument shows logical progression. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative. Clear and convincing argument presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative.
Mechanics of Writing  (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use) 5.0% Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used. Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register), sentence structure, or word choice are present. Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed. Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. A variety of sentence structures and effective figures of speech are used. Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
Paper Format  (use of appropriate style for the major and assignment) 2.0% Template is not used appropriately, or documentation format is rarely followed correctly. Template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent. Template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present. Template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style. All format elements are correct.
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style) 3.0% Sources are not documented. Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors. Ashford University Capstone Project Paper Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present. Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct. Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
Total Weightage 100%
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