Evidence-Based Nursing Care Plans for Chronic Disease Management: A Comprehensive Assessment and Implementation Framework

References in APA Format:

Ackley, B. J., Ladwig, G. B., Makic, M. B. F., Martinez-Kratz, M. R., & Zanotti, M. (2020). Nursing diagnosis handbook: An evidence-based guide to planning care (12th ed.). Elsevier.

Doenges, M. E., Moorhouse, M. F., & Murr, A. C. (2019). Nurse’s pocket guide: Diagnoses, prioritized interventions, and rationales (15th ed.). F.A. Davis Company.

Herdman, T. H., Kamitsuru, S., & Lopes, C. T. (Eds.). (2021). NANDA International nursing diagnoses: Definitions and classification 2021-2023 (12th ed.). Thieme Publishers.

Miskir, Y., & Emishaw, S. (2022). Determinants of nursing care plan practice among nurses working in public hospitals of Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. SAGE Open Nursing, 8, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/23779608221093995

Nibbelink, C. W., & Brewer, B. B. (2020). Decision-making in nursing practice: An integrative literature review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 27(5-6), 917-928. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.14151

BSN Program

ASSESSMENT TASK ASSIGNMENT BRIEF

Course Code: NURS 3250
Course Title: Advanced Nursing Care and Clinical Reasoning
Assessment Number: Assessment 2 – Written Assignment
Assessment Type: Comprehensive Nursing Care Plan
Weighting: 40% of final grade
Word Count: 2,500 words (+/- 10%)
Due Date: Week 10, Friday 5:00 PM EST
Submission Method: Electronic submission via Blackboard (Turnitin enabled)

ASSESSMENT OVERVIEW

This assessment requires you to develop a comprehensive, evidence-based nursing care plan for a patient with a chronic health condition. You will demonstrate your ability to apply the nursing process, utilize critical thinking skills, and integrate current evidence-based practice into holistic patient care planning.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

This assessment task aligns with the following course learning outcomes:

1. LO1: Conduct comprehensive health assessments using systematic approaches and appropriate assessment frameworks
2. LO2: Analyze assessment data to identify priority nursing diagnoses based on patient needs and clinical reasoning
3. LO3: Develop evidence-based nursing interventions that address physiological, psychological, sociocultural, and spiritual dimensions of patient care
4. LO4: Evaluate patient outcomes and modify care plans based on ongoing assessment and evidence-based practice
5. LO5: Demonstrate professional communication and documentation standards in healthcare settings

ASSESSMENT TASK DESCRIPTION

Part A: Case Selection and Patient Profile (500 words)

Select ONE patient case from the provided clinical scenarios (available on Blackboard under Assessment Resources). Your selected patient must have at least one chronic health condition such as:

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Chronic Heart Failure
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Osteoarthritis with comorbidities

Provide a comprehensive patient profile including:

• Demographic information and relevant social history
• Current health status and presenting concerns
• Medical history, including chronic conditions and comorbidities
• Current medications and treatments
• Psychosocial and cultural considerations
• Family/support system information

Part B: Comprehensive Nursing Assessment (600 words)

Conduct a systematic nursing assessment using an appropriate framework (e.g., Gordon’s Functional Health Patterns, Head-to-Toe Assessment, or Body Systems Approach). Your assessment must include:

1. Subjective Data:
   • Patient’s chief complaint and symptoms
   • Patient’s perspective on their health condition
   • Pain assessment (if applicable)
   • Patient’s goals and concerns
2. Objective Data:
   • Vital signs and relevant physical examination findings
   • Diagnostic test results and laboratory values
   • Functional assessment findings
   • Mental health and cognitive status
3. Analysis:
   • Identification of abnormal findings
   • Clinical significance of assessment data
   • Patient’s current health status and risks

Part C: Nursing Diagnoses and Priority Setting (400 words)

Develop THREE priority nursing diagnoses using NANDA-I terminology. For each diagnosis, include:

• Complete diagnostic statement (problem, etiology, signs/symptoms)
• Evidence from your assessment data supporting the diagnosis
• Rationale for prioritization using a recognized framework (e.g., Maslow’s Hierarchy, ABC priority setting)

Nursing diagnoses must address different dimensions of care (e.g., one physiological, one psychosocial, one knowledge deficit/health promotion).

Part D: Care Plan Development (800 words)

For each of your THREE nursing diagnoses, develop a detailed care plan that includes:

1. Patient-Centered Goals/Expected Outcomes:
   • Written in SMART format (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound)
   • Realistic timeframes for achievement
   • Patient-centered and culturally appropriate
2. Evidence-Based Nursing Interventions:
   • Minimum of 4-5 interventions per diagnosis
   • Independent, dependent, and collaborative interventions
   • Specific, detailed, and actionable interventions
   • Integration of patient preferences and cultural considerations
3. Rationale:
   • Evidence-based rationale for each intervention
   • Citation of current literature (published 2019-2025)
   • Link to theoretical frameworks where appropriate
4. Evaluation Criteria:
   • Specific indicators to measure goal achievement
   • Methods for ongoing assessment and monitoring
   • Criteria for determining effectiveness of interventions

Part E: Critical Reflection and Application (200 words)

Provide a brief critical reflection addressing:

• How evidence-based practice informed your care planning
• Consideration of patient autonomy, dignity, and cultural safety
• Potential barriers to implementing the care plan
• Strategies for interprofessional collaboration
• How you would modify the plan based on changing patient needs

FORMATTING AND PRESENTATION REQUIREMENTS

• Use APA 7th edition formatting throughout
• 12-point Times New Roman or Arial font
• Double-spaced with 1-inch (2.54 cm) margins
• Include a title page with student name, ID, course details, and word count
• Include a reference list (not included in word count)
• Use professional academic language
• Use headings and subheadings for organization
• Tables/diagrams may be used but are not required
• All sources must be cited appropriately in-text and in the reference list

REQUIRED RESOURCES

Minimum Reference Requirements:

• At least 10 scholarly references
• Minimum of 6 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2019-2025
• Current clinical practice guidelines (where relevant)
• Textbooks may be used but do not count toward the journal article requirement
• NANDA-I nursing diagnosis reference

Recommended Databases:

• CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature)
• PubMed/MEDLINE
• Cochrane Library
• JBI Evidence-Based Practice Database
• ProQuest Nursing & Allied Health Database

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Your assignment will be assessed according to the following criteria:

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

• Submit your assignment electronically via Blackboard by the due date and time
• File format: Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF
• File naming convention: LastName_FirstName_NURS3250_Assessment2
• A Turnitin similarity report will be generated upon submission
• Similarity index should be below 25% (excluding reference list and direct quotes)
• Late submissions will incur a penalty of 5% per day unless an extension has been approved

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

This is an individual assessment task. You must:

• Complete all work independently
• Acknowledge all sources appropriately
• Not engage in plagiarism, collusion, or contract cheating
• Understand that AI-generated content without proper attribution constitutes academic misconduct
• Review MRU’s Academic Integrity Policy available on the Student Portal

Suspected academic misconduct will be investigated according to university policy and may result in penalties including failure of the assessment or course.

SUPPORT RESOURCES

Academic Support:

• Writing Support Center: Drop-in sessions Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• Library Research Support: Book appointments via library website
• APA Formatting Guide: Available on Blackboard and library website

Clinical Support:

• Faculty office hours: See course profile for schedule
• Peer study groups: Discussion board on Blackboard
• Clinical scenarios and exemplars: Available in Assessment Resources folder

Wellbeing Support:

• Student Counseling Services: [email protected] or (305) 555-0123
• Accessibility Services: For students requiring accommodations

IMPORTANT DATES

CONTACT INFORMATION

For questions regarding this assessment:

Miami Regional University School of Nursing and Health Sciences