Translating Scholarly Knowledge to Practice
Course Description
Focuses on strategies for translating scholarly knowledge to practice and the advancement of skills in evaluation and synthesis of scholarly literature. Emphasizes attention to effective communication of evidence through written and oral formats.
Learning Objectives
1. Identify and discuss models of evidence-based practice and how they apply to organizational settings.
2. Formulate a relevant practice question and apply appraisal skills to critically read, evaluate, and synthesize scholarly knowledge related to this question.
3. Explore how elements of the research process can be used to answer a clinical question.
4. Reflect on and appraise learning related to personal ability to translate scholarly knowledge to practice.
Practice Elements
1. Clarifying a critical nursing practice topic by working and collaborating with practice partners throughout the course and/or reviewing the literature;
2. Searching the scholarly and professional literatures for relevant research, position papers, and other sources of evidence relevant to the topic;
3. Preparing a cogent written synthesis of the literature that includes practice recommendations grounded in the evidence;
4. Presenting the findings and recommendations in a brief format (either orally or as a poster presentation) to a relevant audience (This may be directly to the practice partner if available or simulated if not. If the presentation is simulated, it will include invited practice experts who will come to the classroom to act as the audience and to provide direct feedback to the students); and
5. Providing critical feedback to another group on their project.
Practice Change Project (30 Leadership Practice Experience Hours)
BSN-prepared nurses are often called upon in to participate in or guide clinical policy or practice improvement projects in their practice settings. This practice experience provides students the opportunity to learn the critical skills necessary for participating in and/or leading such quality improvement efforts.
Students will work in small teams (3-5 students) on a critical nursing practice issue identified by a partner agency. The team will develop recommendations for practice change using the PICO process, develop a plan for dissemination and present those recommendations, and consider feedback. This work will occur throughout the quarter as the main focus of this course.
Guidelines for the Practice Change Project Paper and Presentation
Paper
1. Introduction
a. Significance of the issue
b. Problem statement and thesis based on PICO question
c. Information about the population
d. Contextual information about the intervention
e. Outcomes that will be explored
2. Review of the Literature
a. Summary and synthesis of key findings from the literature
b. Assessment of the quality, usefulness, and credibility of existing data
c. Identification of gaps in the research with respect to the PICO question
3. Argument
a. Evidence that support the thesis statement
4. Discussion
a. If evidence supports a change in clinical practice, discussion of the implementation steps for making the practice change in the clinical setting.
b. If evidence does not support a change in clinical practice, discussion the additional research that could help improve this area of healthcare
5. Conclusion
a. Restatement of the thesis and its significance
b. What the reader should consider in the future regarding this topic
Presentation
1. Introduction
a. Problem statement
b. Summary of contextual information about the problem
2. PICO and Thesis
a. PICO question
b. Thesis Statement
3. Review of Literature
a. Synthesis of the literature and findings
b. Summary of the quality of the data reviewed
c. Identification of gaps in the scientific literature, if applicable
4. Argument
a. Claims, reasons and evidence to support the answer to the PICO question
5. Recommendation
a. Steps on how the clinical setting can implement the identified intervention
b. If no intervention, discussion of the areas and approaches for needed research
6. Conclusion
a. Considerations for the future regarding the practice change
