Nursing Leadership Quality Improvement Project Paper Assignment

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 1

Nursing Leadership Quality Improvement Project Paper

Nursing Leadership Quality Improvement Project Paper Assignment Description: Each

student will produce a plan for implementing a change project in nursing departments throughout

the organization. The student will begin by selecting one area for improvement of (e.g. quality

and safety, cost effectiveness, core measures, documentation, billing, patient satisfaction) within

his, or her healthcare organization and propose a change to solve the problem. Students will then

select one of the change theories from the assigned text readings and scholarly literature that

models and appropriately will guide the implementation of the proposed change. Note: Students

will develop the nursing leadership quality improvement project using APA 7th edition. The

paper is expected to be 6 pages not including title page or reference page. A minimum of 5

scholarly sources outside of course readings and textbook. This assignment must be submitted

using the SafeAssign and meet the criteria that all submitted work must fall below a 10%

similarity index (excluding all headings and references).

Assignment Overview: Students will develop an APA 7th edition paper for this

assignment by producing a quality improvement project paper containing a plan for

implementing a change within a nursing department of a health care organization. Students must

select an issue within his, or her nursing department in need of quality improvement. Student

will need to propose a change to solve the issue. Students will also select one of the change

theory models from the course readings and materials to guide the paper on how to implement

the proposed change.

To assist with the development of the nursing leadership quality improvement project

paper students must complete the following:

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 2

• Select and utilize a change theory model to implement the proposed change

• Analyze the leadership roles and management skills necessary to implement the change

• Present and defend your decision-making process;

• Demonstrate the elements of the change process.

Assignment Outline and Criteria

Introduction (header) (the introduction is meant to provide an overview of what will be further

described and analyzed throughout the paper).

Briefly outline the:

• Problem Statement: Provide a clear statement but brief description of the scenario

(problem)

• Change Theory Model: Briefly identify which change theory model will be applied in the

paper

• Proposed Change & Rationale: Briefly describe the proposed change and rationale for

this change

Assessment

• Define the opportunity or problem (how the issue currently exists), the purpose of the

change. Provide the context for the need for this QI project. This provides a more detailed

and in-depth look at the background and significance of the identified scenario/problem.

• Describe the necessary data to be collected and analyzed to support the (analyze course-

based literature, findings, scholarly literature and facility specific data that supports

problem

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 3

• Assessment methods (how will the student go about gathering the necessary data required

to support the need for the QI project and identify what needs to be measured to

demonstrate success (interviews with stakeholders, review of the literature, etc where is

the supporting evidence for this proposed problem/issue in practice coming from?).

• Change theory model: identify and describe in detail the change theory model being used

(support with evidence and scholarly sources). This is where the change theory model is

introduced to the ready, perhaps other applications of the theory and/or ways it has been

used in practice.

• Describe the proposed change and rationale. (outline the proposed QI change intended to

be made within the unit or facility (this needs to be detailed and supported with evidence.

o Describe the proposed plan, change or remedy and the overall goal.

o Identify and set specific measurable goals or objectives (at least two) Be specific

as possible (which stems from the provided data justifying the change)

• Describe people or organizational positions with which collaboration must occur to

ensure success of the QI project (provide rationale for involvement)

Action Plan (Critical Paper Component): Supporting rationale for implementing the proposed

change for the nursing leadership quality improvement project paper will include:

• Steps and processes: Develop specific activities to enhance success and to reduce the

restraining forces and increase the driving forces (again this needs to be specific and

NOT general or vague) make sure to include those necessary to assure staff compliance

• Prioritize activities and give a time frame for implementation. Again, be specific

o Identify the person or persons responsible for carrying out the activities

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 4

o Instructional resources or necessary training that may be needed or required?

• An approach to communicate the plan (how will the change be communicated to the

team members that will be responsible for ensuring the change occurs.

• The change process chosen with an explanation of how and why the change theory

model was selected (detail and support with course readings and other evidence-based

literature how and why this change process was appropriate for the selected problem and

include other variables that may impact the success of this specific change process)

• leadership style utilized and evidence of its effectiveness (explain what leadership style

approach was utilized to ensure the QI project would be successful within the context of

the problem, the environment as well as internal and external influencing factors.

Evaluation: Develop an evaluation plan with at least three outcome criteria (how will project

effectiveness or non-effectiveness be measured); These should be based on the goals/

objectives identified above. Be sure to include the following elements:

• Management functions utilized: (describe your role as the nurse leader/manager in the QI

project; what is your role in ensuring the QI project is successful such as employee

engagement and motivation, measures, resources, training and growth opportunities for

employees for example with student’s chosen QI project)

• Proposed change impacts the healthcare organization’s budget and costs if applicable

• A plan that addresses noncompliance and rejecters to assure compliance

• Specifications regarding the evaluation of the effectiveness post implementation of the

proposed change.

• What methods are used to evaluate the change?

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 5

• Include and evaluation time frame.

Summary

• Highlight any relevant points such as providing a nursing implication conceptually

consistent with the nursing leadership change theory model used in the paper

Grading Rubric

Criteria Exemplary Competent Developing Beginner

Quality improvement process (32 pts)

32 pts Interventions implemented were feasible and pertinent to the identified QI goal and evaluation criteria established

24 pts Most interventions were feasible and pertinent to QI goal and evaluation criteria established

16 pts Interventions were feasible and most were pertinent to the QI goals but limited evaluation criteria was established

8 pts Interventions were not feasible nor pertinent to the QI goal and little to no evaluation criteria established

Introduction (20 pts)

20 pts Excellent summary and introduction to the problem, change theory model, proposed QI project & rationale that is well supported by scholarly sources

15 pts Good summary and introduction to the problem, change theory model, proposed QI change project & rationale that is somewhat well supported by

10 pts Fair summary and introduction to the problem, change theory model, proposed QI project & rationale that is fair but somewhat vaguely supported by scholarly

5 pts Poor to little introduction to the problem, change theory model, proposed QI project & rationale that is unclear or not supported by scholarly

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 6

Overall Process-Key elements & Summary (40 pts)

40 pts Exceptional discussion and choice of change theory model that is congruent with proposed problem and QI project. The leadership and management skills are clearly identified and supported and congruent with proposed QI project. Decision making processes are identified and supported throughout the paper and elements of the specific change process model are evident, supported and consistently applied throughout the paper from introduction to

30 pts Good discussion and choice of change theory model that is congruent with proposed problem and QI project. The leadership and management skills are mostly clear and supported and congruent with proposed QI project. Decision making processes are identified and mostly supported throughout the paper and elements of the specific change process model are largely evident, supported and consistently applied

20 pts Fair discussion and choice of change theory model that is somewhat congruent with proposed problem and QI project. The leadership and management skills are fairly clear but somewhat vague with fair support that is somewhat congruent with proposed QI project. Decision making processes are identified and fairly supported through some but not all the paper with some elements of the change process model vaguely supported and somewhat

10 pts Poor discussion and choice of change theory model that is limitedly congruent with proposed problem and QI project. The leadership and management skills are vague and unclear with limited support and incongruent with proposed QI project. Decision making processes are not supported through and inconsistently applied throughout the paper

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 7

Assessment (40 pts)

40 pts Presentation of the information was exceptional and included in all of the following elements: • Background

and significance of problem for QI project

• Necessary data sources identified Methods for assessment of QI project

• Change theory model is detailed with good supporting evidence and is clearly linked to QI project and approach

• Proposed change has excellent rationale with a detailed plan and at least 2 SMART goals

• Accurate description of people and organizational positions necessary for the QI to be

30 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Background

and significance of problem for QI project

• Necessary data sources identified Methods for assessment of QI project

• Change theory model is detailed with good supporting evidence and is clearly linked to QI project and approach

• Proposed change has excellent rationale with a detailed plan and at least 2 SMART goals

• Accurate description of people and organizationa

20 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Background

and significance of problem for QI project

• Necessary data sources identified Methods for assessment of QI project

• Change theory model is detailed with good supporting evidence and is clearly linked to QI project and approach

• Proposed change has excellent rationale with a detailed plan and at least 2 SMART goals

• Accurate description of people and organizational positions necessary for

10 pts Presentation of information was unsatisfactory in one or more of the following elements • Background

and significance of problem for QI project

• Necessary data sources identified Methods for assessment of QI project

• Change theory model is detailed with good supporting evidence and is clearly linked to QI project and approach

• Proposed change has excellent rationale with a detailed plan and at least 2 SMART goals

• Accurate description of people and organizationa l positions

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 8

Action Plan (40 pts)

40 pts Presentation of the information was exceptional and included in all of the following elements: • Steps and

processes are clear and realistic for proposed QI project

• Strategies to address restraining and driving forces are clearly articulated and supported

• Personnel and communicatio n plan is clearly and effectively outlined

• Change process is clear and linked to QI problem

• Leadership style is evident, well explained and a good fit with the QI project/

30 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Steps and

processes are clear and realistic for proposed QI project

• Strategies to address restraining and driving forces are clearly articulated and supported

• Personnel and communicati on plan is clearly and effectively outlined

• Change process is clear and linked to QI problem

• Leadership style is evident, well

20 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Steps and

processes are clear and realistic for proposed QI project

• Strategies to address restraining and driving forces are clearly articulated and supported

• Personnel and communicatio n plan is clearly and effectively outlined

• Change process is clear and linked to QI problem

• Leadership style is evident, well explained and a good fit with

10 pts Presentation of information was unsatisfactory in one or more of the following elements • Steps and

processes are clear and realistic for proposed QI project

• Strategies to address restraining and driving forces are clearly articulated and supported

• Personnel and communicati on plan is clearly and effectively outlined

• Change process is clear and linked to QI problem

• Leadership style is evident, well explained and a good

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 9

Evaluation (40 pts)

40 pts Presentation of the information was exceptional and included in all of the following elements: • Three

outcome criteria are identified and consistent with evaluating the planned QI project

• Management functions are well detailed and supported

• The impact of proposed change to healthcare organization including budget and costs is identified and addressed

• Plan to address noncomplianc e is evident

• Evaluation of effectiveness of plan is clear and consistent with change theory model and outline goals

30 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Three

outcome criteria are identified and consistent with evaluating the planned QI project

• Management functions are well detailed and supported

• The impact of proposed change to healthcare organization including budget and costs is identified and addressed

• Plan to address noncomplian ce is evident

• Evaluation of effectiveness of plan is clear and consistent with change theory model

20 pts Presentation of information was good, but was superficial in places and included all of the following elements: • Three

outcome criteria are identified and consistent with evaluating the planned QI project

• Management functions are well detailed and supported

• The impact of proposed change to healthcare organization including budget and costs is identified and addressed

• Plan to address noncomplianc e is evident

• Evaluation of effectiveness of plan is clear and consistent with change theory model and outline

10 pts Presentation of information was unsatisfactory in one or more of the following elements • Three

outcome criteria are identified and consistent with evaluating the planned QI project

• Management functions are well detailed and supported

• The impact of proposed change to healthcare organization including budget and costs is identified and addressed

• Plan to address noncomplian ce is evident

• Evaluation of effectiveness of plan is clear and consistent with change theory model

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 10

Writing Mechanics (16 pts)

16 pts The submitted assignment is within the expected page length of 6-8 pages Five scholarly sources other than textbook and course readings are included 1-2 errors or exceptions to rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, and other aspects of formal written work in APA 7th

12 pts The submitted assignment is within expected page length of 6-8 pages but only 4 of 5 scholarly sources other than textbook and course readings are included

3-4 errors or exceptions to rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, and other aspects of formal written

8 pts The submitted assignment is within expected page length of 6-8 pages but only 3 of 5 scholarly sources other than textbook and course readings are included with 5-6 errors or exceptions to rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, and other aspects of formal written work in APA 7th edition

4 pts The submitted assignment is not within the expected page length of 6-8 pages and less than 3 of the required scholarly sources other than textbook and course readings are included with 6 or more errors or exceptions to rules of grammar, spelling, word usage, punctuation, and

APA formatting (20 pts)

20 pts APA 7th edition guidelines are followed with <2 errors including: Title page Reference page In-text citations Reference page citations Headings Margins and formatting (12 pt font, double spaced throughout)

15 pts APA 7th edition guidelines are followed with 2-3 errors including: Title page Reference page In-text citations Reference page citations Headings Margins and formatting (12 pt font, double spaced throughout)

10 pts APA 7th edition guidelines followed with 3-5 errors including Title page Reference page In-text citations Reference page citations Headings Margins and formatting (12 pt font, double spaced throughout)

5 pts APA guidelines are not followed and there are > 5 errors made or little regard is paid to adhere to APA guidelines including: Title page Reference page In-text citations Reference page citations Headings Margins and formatting (12 pt font, double spaced throughout)

248 pts total

Leadership Quality Improvement Project (30% of Final Grade) 11