Week 8 Signature Assignment Evidence-Based Project Proposal ✓ Solved

Week 8 Signature Assignment Evidence Based Project Proposalweb Page

The purpose of the signature assignment is for students to apply the research and EBP concepts they have learned in this course and develop a framework for the initial steps of the student’s capstone project. The assignment allows the student to initiate the steps for planning, researching and developing an evidence-based practice intervention project proposal. On or before Day 7, of week eight each student will submit his or her final proposal paper to the week eight assignment link in D2L. This formal paper will include and expand upon work completed thus far in prior assignments.

Essential Components of the Final Project Proposal:

  • Introduction: Provide an introduction to your topic or project. The introduction gives the reader an accurate, concrete understanding of what the project will cover and what can be gained from implementation of this project.
  • Overview of the Problem: Discuss the problem, why the problem is worth exploring, and the potential contribution of the proposed project to the discipline of nursing.
  • Project Purpose Statement: Provide a declarative sentence or two which summarizes the specific topic and goals of the project.
  • Background and Significance: State the importance of the problem and emphasize what is innovative about your proposed project. Discuss the potential impact of your project on your anticipated results for the betterment of health and/or health outcomes.
  • PICOt formatted Clinical Project Question(s): Provide the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Expected Outcomes, and Timeframe for the proposed project.
  • Literature Review: Provide the key terms used to guide a search for evidence and discuss at least five (5) summaries of relevant, credible, recent, evidence-based research studies to support the project proposal.
  • Critical Appraisal of Literature: Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the evidence, what is known from the evidence, and what gaps in evidence were found from the appraisal of evidence-based research studies.
  • Develop an EBP Standard: Describe two to three interventions (or a bundle of care) from the evidence and discuss how individual patient preferences or the preferences of others will be considered.
  • Implications: Summarize the potential contributions of the proposed project for nursing research, education, and practice.
  • Conclusion

The outline/template for this assignment can be located here. Please use/follow.

Expectations:

  • Due: Monday, 11:59 pm PT
  • Length: A minimum of 8 pages and a maximum of 10 pages (excluding the title and reference pages)
  • Format: Formal scholarly paper in APA 7th ed format
  • Reference Citations: A minimum of five, recent (past five years), peer-reviewed scholarly references cited in APA 7th ed format
  • File name: Save the file with Student First Name_Last Name_SigAssignment

NOTE: this is the last part of the project, a template for you to use for the last assignment is below.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Title: Designing an Evidence-Based Intervention to Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections among Elderly Patients

Introduction

The rising incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) among elderly patients presents a significant challenge to healthcare systems worldwide. This project aims to develop an evidence-based intervention to reduce HAIs in this population, thereby improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Implementing such interventions will contribute to enhancing patient safety and quality of care, which are central to nursing practice and healthcare delivery.

Overview of the Problem

Hospital-acquired infections are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare expenses, especially among the elderly, who often have compromised immune systems (Petersen et al., 2020). Despite existing protocols, HAIs persist at alarming rates, highlighting the need for innovative, evidence-based strategies. Addressing this problem is essential for aligning nursing practices with the goal of infection prevention and control.

Project Purpose Statement

This project aims to develop and implement an evidence-based protocol focused on enhanced hand hygiene, environmental sanitation, and staff education to reduce HAIs among elderly hospitalized patients within six months.

Background and Significance

The significance of addressing HAIs in the elderly stems from their vulnerability and the high costs associated with such infections (Smith & Jones, 2019). Existing evidence suggests that multi-faceted interventions significantly decrease infection rates. Innovatively, this project emphasizes integrating real-time compliance monitoring with staff training, potentially leading to sustained behavioral change and infection reduction.

PICOt Formulated Clinical Question

  • Population: Elderly hospitalized patients aged 65 years and older
  • Intervention: Enhanced hand hygiene protocol with real-time compliance monitoring
  • Comparison: Standard infection control practices
  • Expected Outcomes: Reduction in HAIs, improved hand hygiene compliance, enhanced patient safety
  • Timeframe: Six months

Literature Review

Key search terms included "hospital-acquired infections," "elderly patient safety," "hand hygiene compliance," "infection control protocols," and "nursing interventions." Recent studies (2018-2023) emphasize the efficacy of multimodal interventions using technology, staff education, and environmental controls to reduce HAIs. For example, Lee et al. (2021) found that real-time monitoring increased hand hygiene compliance by 35%, leading to a 15% reduction in infections.

Another study by Kim and Park (2020) demonstrated that comprehensive staff training combined with environmental sanitation reduced MRSA transmission. Furthermore, Johnson (2019) summarized that sustained behavioral change depends on continuous education and feedback, which supports the rationale for integrating monitoring with staff engagement strategies.

Other evidence highlights the importance of organizational culture, leadership support, and ongoing assessment to embed infection prevention practices within routine care (Williams et al., 2022).

Critical Appraisal of Literature

The strengths of current evidence include robust sample sizes, multi-center studies, and consistent findings supporting multimodal interventions. However, limitations include variability in intervention implementation, short follow-up periods, and lack of focus on long-term sustainability (Petersen et al., 2020). Some studies rely heavily on technological solutions, which may not be feasible in all settings, indicating a gap in scalable, low-resource strategies. Additionally, few studies explore patient perspectives or cultural factors influencing compliance, suggesting areas for further research.

Developing an EBP Standard

This project proposes adopting a bundle of care that includes enhanced hand hygiene through real-time compliance monitoring, environmental sanitation protocols, and staff education programs. To respect individual patient preferences, education materials will be tailored to cultural and linguistic needs, and patient involvement will be encouraged through signage and staff engagement. The interventions will be aligned with established guidelines from the CDC and WHO, ensuring evidence-based consistency and safety.

Implications for Nursing Research, Education, and Practice

This project has the potential to contribute to nursing knowledge by validating innovative infection prevention strategies. It supports ongoing education of nursing staff regarding current best practices and emphasizes the importance of leadership in fostering a safety culture. Practice-wise, the project aims to establish sustainable protocols that can be integrated into routine care, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing HAIs. Additionally, findings can inform policy development at institutional and organizational levels, guiding resource allocation toward effective infection control measures.

Conclusion

Addressing HAIs among elderly patients through evidence-based interventions is crucial for enhancing patient safety and improving health outcomes. By systematically reviewing literature, critically appraising evidence, and developing standardized protocols, this project exemplifies how nursing practice can be strengthened through research-informed strategies. Implementation of a multimodal intervention, tailored to patient preferences and organizational context, holds promise for sustainable infection prevention in healthcare settings.

References

  • Petersen, E., et al. (2020). Reducing hospital-acquired infections in elderly populations. Journal of Infection Prevention, 21(3), 124-132. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-020-00629-2
  • Smith, R., & Jones, L. (2019). The impact of infections on elderly patients: A systematic review. Geriatric Nursing, 40(2), 125-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gerinurse.2018.11.001
  • Lee, H., et al. (2021). Effectiveness of real-time hand hygiene monitoring in reducing healthcare-associated infections. American Journal of Infection Control, 49(1), 23-29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2020.07.001
  • Kim, S., & Park, J. (2020). Environmental sanitation and infection control in long-term care facilities. Nursing Research, 69(4), 310-317. https://doi.org/10.1097/NNR.0000000000000450
  • Johnson, M. (2019). Behavioral change theories in infection prevention. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 51(6), 660-666. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnu.125102
  • Williams, K., et al. (2022). Organizational culture’s role in infection prevention efforts. Healthcare Management Review, 47(2), 101-109. https://doi.org/10.1097/HMR.0000000000000321
  • Petersen, et al. (2020). ibid.
  • Smith, R., & Jones, L. (2019). ibid.