While the implementation plan prepares students to apply their research to the problem or issue they have identified for their capstone project change proposal, the literature review enables students to map out and move into the active planning and development stages of the project.

A literature review analyzes how current research supports the PICOT, as well as identifies what is known and what is not known in the evidence. Students will use the information from the earlier PICOT Question Paper and Literature Evaluation Table assignments to develop a 750-1,000 word review that includes the following sections:

1. Title page
2. Introduction section
3. A comparison of research questions
4. A comparison of sample populations
5. A comparison of the limitations of the study
6. A conclusion section, incorporating recommendations for further research

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

1-Do you think it is important for nurses to be involved in their professional organizations? Why or why not?

2. The Affordable Care Act (“ObamaCare”) has been both praised and vilified. Debate the pros and cons of this legislation and of health-care reform in general. 

3. What is your vision of nursing’s future? How will you contribute to shaping it? 

4. Interview a nurse educated in a diploma program at least 20 years ago.

a-How did that nurse’s education differ from your education today? 

5. Locate the website of a professional organization related to nursing. Bring a copy of the organization’s mission, membership criteria, and standards of practice. 

6. Ask five people of different ages and gender who do not work in the health-care field what they think most nurses do. Compile their answers with the answers your classmates collected and summarize them. Compare the summary to what you know nurses actually do.

a-Were the answers realistic? 

b-Did they over- or underestimate the responsibilities most nurses have?

c-Did they recognize the wide variety of things nurses do?

d-Was there a difference by age or gender of the person answering the question?

e-What do the results tell you about the public’s image of nursing? 

f-What do you think influences their image the most? Explain your answer.

7. Describe the nurse of the future.

a-What does he or she do?

b-Do you think nursing will become a more powerful force in health care?

c-Why or why not? 

Everyone should have an approved topic for your final paper on an ethical dilemma of your choosing. This week’s assignment is to write the first, and most important, part of your paper (my topic “Incompetent/Impaired Nurses”)

This is the Introduction—Summary of What is Known about the Issue (See Grading Rubric for Final Paper)

1. Why is this topic important to investigate?
2. What is the scope, context, and significance of the topic as an ethical dilemma?
3. Highlight the importance of the problem/issue and make general statements about the problem/issue
4. Summarize the current understanding and background information about the topic
5. Include one reference source that will support your introductory thoughts about your topic.
6. APA 7th edition format; full sentences, attention to grammar

Appendix C – Mrs. Thomas

• Give the questions some thought and answer honestly
• Give examples if you have them
• Cite resources
• Number your answers to correspond with the question
• Worth 12 points / 5%
• Scenario:
  Mrs. Thomas is a 54, year old African American widow, mother and grandmother, who lives with her daughter and four grandchildren (ages 12, 10, 7 and 5) in a 4 story walk up apartment. She is an active member of her church community and friends, comments that she had so much energy that she exhausted all of them just being around her. At age 51, she was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Busy with raising her grandchildren, a little more than 3 years went by before she sought attention for her symptoms and was diagnosed. Despite aggressive treatments with chemotherapy and radiation, her diseased progressed and she was considering undergoing a bone marrow transplant. Climbing the stairs to the apartment one afternoon she became very short of breath and collapsed. Her twelve, year old granddaughter called 911. At the hospital she was minimally responsive and in severe respiratory distress. She was intubated and transferred to the ICU. A family meeting with the oncology and ICU team was called to discuss Mrs. Thomas’s advanced condition, the fact that she would probably not survive further treatment of the lymphoma and to decide on goals of care. Fifteen family members arrived, including her daughter, pre-teen granddaughters and grandson, three nieces, four nephews, several friends from her church and the minister. On being asked that only the immediate family participate in the meeting, the family and friends became angry and insisted that all of them be involved in this discussion.
  Discussion questions:

1. What is your impression regarding this scenario? What are some concerns you have with this case and what do you anticipate would happen? Support your answer.
2. Have you thought about what kind of care you would want if you could no longer speak for yourself at the End of Life? Give examples.
3. How would you handle all the family members and friends wanting to be included in the discussion?

•  Assignment 2 (Appendix D – Pain)Assignment Due November 24 at 6:00 PMAppendix D – Pain

• Give the questions some thought and answer honestly.
• Give examples if you have them
• Cite resources
• Number your answers to correspond with the question
• Worth 12 points / 5%
• Questions:

1. Describe your response to the pain you have experienced. Explain and describe the pain you were experiencing. What were the effective methods used to deal with the pain? Describe pharmacological and non-pharmacological therapies used to relieve pain.
2. Did those around you understand the pain you were experiencing? Why or why not? How did their understanding or lack of understanding make you feel?
3. How could this experience with pain impact your response to a patient with pain?

Read the Stokowski article from Week 3.  Consider the implementation of the EHR in your facility.  After reading the article choose one issue or argument presented.  Answer the following points:

• Discuss how you encountered this in your facility.
• What were the common responses of staff and providers? What were the barriers and how could you overcome them?
• Consider how you would have changed the implementation and/ or ongoing support for the EHR. What specific measures or support would you have provided and why? 
• How can you evaluate the effectiveness of the measures?
• If you could tell your head of information technology how to improve it or change, what would it be and why?