NFDN 2003

NFDN 2003 Assignment 1: Research and Application to Nursing Care

Purpose: This assignment will give students the opportunity to examine the research and find evidenced
based nursing practice that is related to current trends and issues in medical-surgical nursing. Students
will apply that research in developing a nursing care plan that will help promote health for a medical-
surgical client.

This assignment contains 3 parts completed in two components. First, you will write a scholarly paper on
a procedure or trend/issue that impacts the health of a medical-surgical client. Second, you will then
apply your scholarly paper findings/research to describe how the evidence best supports the change of a
nursing procedure/trend/issue and the impact of the change on the health outcomes of the client. Third,
this evidence will then be applied in a nursing care plan for a theoretical medical-surgical client.

This assignment is worth 65 marks and contributes 20% toward the final course mark.

The following General learning outcomes apply to this assignment:

• Integrate the nursing metaparadigm, nursing theories, and related knowledge into nursing
practice in providing holistic care for the medical/surgical client
• Integrate concepts of self-care and nurse-client synergy when providing medical/surgical nursing
care and promoting health
• Apply principles of teaching and learning related to the medical/surgical client
• Incorporate research findings in evidence-informed practice in the delivery of medical/surgical
nursing care

Instructions:
Note: This assignment has 2 components to it: Part A- Research Paper and Part B- Nursing Care Plan
Part A:
1. Select a topic from the list below or you may select a topic that interests you, but speak with
your instructor first if you are choosing your own topic.
a. Care and use of different types of chest tubes (e.g., wet/dry/Heimlich valves).
b.I ncreasing incidents of a super infection (ESBL, BRE, and MRSA) in the acute care setting
and how these can be avoided. Choose one super infection to focus on.
c. Types and trends of post-operative infections in the acute care setting in Alberta.
d.C lean vs sterile techniques for tracheostomy care, bladder irrigation, or intermittent
catheterization.
e. Preventing complications such as DVTs, respiratory complications, and skin breakdown
in the immobilized acute care client (skeletal traction, external fixators, strict bed rest
etc.). Choose one complication to focus on.
f. Issues of early discharge of the post-operative client from the acute care setting.
2. Research your topic of choice.
a. Provide a brief description of the procedure or trend/issue that impacts medical-surgical
client.
b.C ompare procedure or trend/issue with previous practice in medical-surgical nursing.
c. Describe the evidence-based practice that promotes the health of the medical-surgical
client in the hospital or following their discharge home. Support with literature.
d.I dentify health teaching information that promotes the health of the medical-surgical
client specific to the chosen procedure/trend/issue. Support with literature.

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Part B:
1. Create a care plan (template below) based on the evidence-based research from part A.
a. Write 3 nursing diagnoses that relate to the topic that you have researched
i. One addressing a priority from the evidence presented (an actual problem from
the research in part A)
ii. One addressing a potential complication from the evidence presented
iii. One addressing an educational need from the evidence presented
b.W rite 1 goal for each nursing diagnosis. A goal is a broad statement of what the care
plan should accomplish.
c. Write 1 expected outcome (SMART) for each goal. Expected outcomes provide the
means to determine if the broader goal is met.
d.W rite 3 nursing interventions for each outcome. Support each intervention with
evidence from the literature
i. Include interventions applicable to the care of the client, and health promotion
teaching that is applicable to the acute-care setting or the home setting after
discharge
ii. Interventions should be specific and measurable
iii. Interventions must directly relate to achieving the goal and represent best
practice in nursing from your research paper
e. Write 1 evaluative statement for each expected outcome including SMART criteria &
evidence to support your statement. This is a hypothetical statement and indicates how
you, as the nurse, would know if the stated overarching goal was achieved.
f. Rubric can be found on page 4-5
Submission Requirements:
• Part A needs to include the following
a. Typewritten and follows APA 7th Edition formatting guidelines
b. Utilize headings (see marking guide for headings)
c. Contains a title, introduction/conclusion, and body of the paper
d. Support your findings with the literature (peer reviewed articles, journal, or
textbooks)
e. No more than 3 pages in length (excluding the title and reference pages)
f. Reference page must include at least 3 current resources (within 7 years)
• Part B will utilize the Care Plan template found on page 3
• When both part A and B are completed, submit your assignment to Moodle drop box.

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Part B: Care Plan Template

Actual Nursing Planning Interventions Evaluation
Diagnosis
Goal Intervention

Literature Support
Intervention

Literature Support
Outcome (SMART) Intervention

Literature Support
Potential Nursing Planning Interventions Evaluation
Diagnosis
Goal Intervention

Literature Support

Intervention

Literature Support

Outcome (SMART) Intervention

Literature Support
Teaching Nursing Planning Interventions Evaluation
Diagnosis
Goal Intervention

Literature Support
Intervention

Literature Support
Outcome (SMART) Intervention

Literature Support

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Assignment 1: Research and Application to Nursing Care Marking Guide

Key Content Marking Guide

Part A: Research Paper 5 3 1 0
Briefly described the procedure or trend/issue Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
that impacts the medical-surgical client
Compared the procedure or trend/issue with Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
previous practise in medical-surgical nursing
Described evidence-based practice, supported Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
by literature, that promotes the health of the
medical-surgical client in the hospital or
following discharge
Identified areas for health teaching that Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
promotes the health of the medical-surgical
client, supported by literature
Comments:
Part A Total Total /20
Part B: Care Plan 5 3 1 0
Diagnosis
Wrote an actual nursing diagnosis statement Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
that relates to a priority from the evidence
presented
Wrote a nursing diagnosis statement that Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
focused on a potential complication from the
evidence presented
Wrote a nursing diagnosis statement that Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
focused on an educational need related to the
evidence presented
Comments: Subtotal /15
Goals/Expected Outcomes 5 3 1 0
Wrote one goal for each nursing diagnosis Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
Wrote one expected outcome (SMART) for Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
each goal
Comments: Subtotal /10
Interventions 5 3 1 0
Identified 3 nursing interventions for each goal Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
related to trend/issue
Provided literature for each intervention Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
Comments: Subtotal /10
Evaluation
Wrote one evaluative statement for each Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
expected outcome including SMART criteria &
evidence to support your statement.
Comments: Subtotal /5
Part B Total Total /60

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Key Content Marking Guide

APA and Grammar 1 0.5 0.25 0
TITLE PAGE Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
Included: running head and page number. In
the upper half of the page include title of paper,
Student name, college name; course and
section number; Assignment name and number,
Instructor name (all centred), and Date.

BODY OF PAPER Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None

Paper organized – Title page; page number;
introduction, body and conclusion;appropriate
margins and APA headings; double-spaced
throughout; indent 5 spaces or 1 tab for new
paragraphs; correct font – Times NewRoman,
12-pt. font.

REFERENCES Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None

Citations in body of paper follow APA 7th ed.
format
References, on separate page, follow APA 7th Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
ed. format
GRAMMAR AND SPELLING Excellent Satisfactory Minimal None
Grammar appropriate and words spelled
correctly (< 5 errors)
Comments: APA Subtotal: /5
Complete Assignment Grand Total: /65

Legend:

Excellent: comprehensive information or analysis included, great attention to detail

Satisfactory: most required information included at an adequate level
Minimal: Minimal required information included incomplete work throughout
None: Required information not identifiable

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