NURS12165 Evidence to Inform Nursing Practice

Aim

The assessment aims to apply research evidence to a clinical nursing problem and to demonstrate how research evidence underpins the NSQHCS Standards and clinical practice guidelines/policies.

Scenario

Your NUM is impressed with the information you have collected on the need for the ‘bare below the elbow’ policy. The NUM asks you to prepare the material for inclusion in an evidence-based information sheet which will be used to educate the RNs, student nurses and assistants in nursing (AIN) working on the medical-surgical ward. The NUM asks you to provide the nursing staff with the best academic evidence on why ‘bare below the elbow’ is important as an infection control measure. The NUM requests that you link this information to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHCS) and relevant clinical practice guidelines or policies. The NUM also asks that the information sheet contain recommendations for practical nursing actions based on the evidence you have collected, i.e. actions that nurses can implement in support of the ‘bare below the elbow’ policy.

Instructions

This assessment consists of 2 tasks related to the scenario above.

Please follow the steps below to complete the assessment task. A template is provided in Moodle, to help you structure this assessment.

Evidence resources that must be included in Task 1:

• At least four credible journal articles. You may use the articles retrieved for Assessment 1.

• Two reputable (credible) websites (See NURS12165 Moodle site).

• The 2021 edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (NSQHCS)

• A relevant clinical practice guideline or policy.

Task 1 Using Evidence to Support Nursing Practice (1200 ±10% words:, worth 65 marks)

(LO1, LO2, LO3)

Step 1.1 In no more than three (3) paragraphs, summarise the evidence you have collected by focusing on three main ideas/concepts related to the clinical problem: ‘Bare below the elbow’. Please ensure you support your summary with intext citations. (Word count 600 words including intext citations – 30 marks)

Step 1.2 Relate each idea/concept to the relevant NSQHS Standard. Specify the appropriate NSQHS ‘Item’ and ‘Action’ relating to that idea/concept. (50 words per idea/concept including intext citations – Total word count 150 words - 10 marks)

Step 1.3: Link each idea/concept to an appropriate clinical practice guideline or policy. (50 words per idea/concept including intext citations – total word count 150 words - 10 marks)

Step 1.4: For each idea/concept, recommend one practical action/nursing practice that the nurses can implement in support of the ‘bare below the elbow’ policy. You must use the word recommend or recommendation or recommended. (100 words per idea/concept including intext citations – total word count 300 words – 15 marks)

Task 2: Reflection (200 ± 10% words, 15 marks) (LO4)

Reflect on what you consider evidence-based practice to be and why your clinical nursing decision making should be based on the best available evidence. In writing your reflection, consider the changes to your nursing practice that you may make, or not make, based on your discussion in Task 1. Intext citations are not required in this reflection. Your reflection is to be written in the first person. When writing your reflection, you need to use the words: me, my and I.

Requirements

• Submit your assessment using the Assessment 3 Template provided.

• A cover page is required; as per the Template provided, no introduction or conclusion is required. Include a reference list.
• You must use headings, i.e. Task 1 – Step 1.1, Task 2 – Reflection, etc.

• Use a conventional and legible size 12 font, such as Times New Roman, with 2.0 line spacing and 2.54cm page margins (standard pre-set margin in Microsoft Word).

• Include page numbers on the top right side of each page in a header.

• You may write in the first-person perspective (I, my) for reflective writing tasks (Task 2). Task 1 must be written in the third person.

• Do not use direct quotes in the assessment.

Literature and references

• Use current resources (references) from 2017 to the present.

• Use the 7th edition American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style.

Submission

• Submit online through Turnitin, as a single Microsoft Word document.

• Please submit your assignment by the due date using the Assessment 3 link available on the NURS12165 Moodle site.

• Submit a draft before the due date to review your Turnitin Similarity Score before making a final submission.

Learning Outcomes Assessed

• Apply information literacy skills.

• Employ a systematic approach to locating evidence to address a specific clinical situation.

• Appraise evidence and use critical thinking skills when applying evidence in clinical contexts.

• Reflect on the purpose of evidence in nursing practice and explain why clinical decision-making should be based on the best available evidence.