NUR 550 Evidence-Based Practice Project Proposal Identification of Nursing Practice Problem

Sample Answer

Part 1 Propose a relevant nursing practice problem for an evidence-based practice project. Explain why you selected this topic and how it is pertinent to advance nursing practice. Include one research article that demonstrates support for the nursing practice problem.

The problem of clinical competence and decision-making skills in undergraduate nursing students is a concern in nursing education. The most common challenge in this population is the transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application, which may cause difficulties in patient care, medical errors, and decreased confidence in clinical settings.

The development of these skills in this group is essential to improve the quality of nursing care because, as a result of an increase in healthcare complexity, the demand for highly competent nurses is constantly increasing. Identifying and implementing evidence-based educational interventions to enhance clinical competence and decision-making skills will also benefit the students and the nursing profession as it will incorporate innovative training methods that improve patient safety and care quality.

This topic was chosen because clinical competence and decision-making skills are crucial for nursing students, and their consequences are significant for the healthcare system. Improving these skills can enhance the quality of patient care and increase the confidence of new nurses entering the workforce.

This nursing education issue relates to the effectiveness of teaching methods and preparing future nurses for real-world challenges. A study by Nair et al. (2024) also supports the use of high-fidelity simulation in nursing education.

The research established that simulation-based training plays a significant role in improving clinical competence and decision-making skills in undergraduate nursing students, which can be applied in nursing programs.
Part II In the table below, describe the population and the intervention. (You will continue drafting the PICOT, completing the shaded areas in Topic 3.)

PICOT Question

P Population Undergraduate nursing students in a nursing education program.

I  Intervention Implementation of high-fidelity simulation training paired with structured clinical skills education, including training for students and faculty on complex clinical scenarios and decision-making strategies.

C Comparison Traditional clinical placement does not include high-fidelity simulation or formal decision-making skills training.

O Outcome Improvement in clinical competence and decision-making skills, focusing on higher scores in clinical competence assessments and complex scenario evaluations.

T Timeframe The training will take 16 weeks, during which the intervention’s effectiveness in improving clinical skills will be measured and compared to the results under traditional clinical placement.

PICOT In undergraduate nursing students (P), does the implementation of high-fidelity simulation training combined with clinical skills education (I), compared to traditional clinical placement (C), improve clinical competence and decision-making skills (O) over a 16-week semester (T)?

Problem Statement Undergraduate nursing students’ clinical competence and decision-making skills are a recurring issue that contributes to challenges in patient care and decreased confidence in clinical settings. High-fidelity simulation, accompanied by clinical skills education, may enhance the development of these key competencies.

This evidence-based intervention will directly improve nursing education outcomes and the overall development of nursing practice by including strategies to strengthen the preparation of future nurses.

Reference

• Nair, M. A., Muthu, P., & Abuijlan, I. A. M. (2024). The effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation on clinical competence among nursing students. SAGE Open Nursing, 10. https //doi.org/10.1177/23779608241249357