Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (QI) Proposal

Course Code and Title: NUR 4650: Leadership and Management in Contemporary Healthcare

Assessment Title: Evidence-Based Quality Improvement (QI) Proposal

Type of Assessment: Formal Research Proposal Paper

Weighting: 30% of Final Grade

Due Date: Week 14, Sunday, December 7, 2025, by 11:59 PM EST (submitted via the Canvas portal)

1. Rationale and Aims

The modern healthcare landscape demands that Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)-prepared nurses act as leaders and agents of change at the point of care. A core competency for the professional nurse is the ability to identify clinical problems, critique existing practices, and utilize current evidence to propose and implement improvements that enhance patient safety and outcomes.

This assessment requires you to synthesize knowledge from leadership, research, and clinical practice to develop a formal proposal for a quality improvement initiative. The aim is to demonstrate your ability to:

• Identify a significant, practice-based problem in a healthcare setting.
• Conduct a focused review of peer-reviewed literature to find the best available evidence.
• Apply a recognized quality improvement model (e.g., PDSA, Six Sigma, Lean).
• Develop a comprehensive, stakeholder-aware implementation and evaluation plan.
• Articulate the role of the nurse leader in driving evidence-based change.

2. Task Description

You are to prepare a formal 8-10 page research paper (excluding title page and references) that proposes a specific, evidence-based quality improvement project relevant to a clinical nursing setting. You may choose a problem you have observed during your clinical rotations or one that is well-documented in nursing literature.

Your proposal must include the following sections, clearly delineated with APA-formatted headings:

• I. Introduction & Problem Identification:
  • Clearly define the clinical problem, issue, or inefficiency.
  • Explain its significance to the patient population, the nursing staff, and the healthcare organization.
  • Provide background data or statistics to establish the scope and impact of the problem (e.g., incidence of falls, medication error rates, hospital-acquired infection rates).
  • Conclude with a clear PICOT question that will guide your project.
• II. Literature Review & Evidence Synthesis:
  • Synthesize findings from at least five (5) peer-reviewed research articles published within the last five years (2020-2025).
  • Critically appraise the evidence and identify a best-practice recommendation or intervention to address your identified problem.
  • Discuss the strength of the evidence supporting the proposed change.
• III. Proposed Quality Improvement Initiative:
  • Clearly describe your proposed intervention.
  • Select and briefly justify a quality improvement model (e.g., Plan-Do-Study-Act) that will frame your implementation.
  • Implementation Plan: Detail the steps for implementation. Identify key stakeholders (e.g., nurse manager, staff nurses, physicians, pharmacists, patients) and discuss strategies for engagement and overcoming potential barriers. Include a proposed timeline for implementation (e.g., over a 12-week period).
  • Evaluation Plan: Describe how you will measure the success of your initiative. What specific, measurable outcomes will you track (e.g., pre- and post-intervention data)? What data collection tools will you use?
• IV. Conclusion & Role of the Nurse Leader:
  • Summarize the key components of your proposal.
  • Conclude with a reflection on the role of the BSN-prepared nurse as a leader in quality improvement, patient advocacy, and interprofessional collaboration.

3. Formatting and Submission Requirements

• Length: 8-10 pages of body text. The title page, abstract (if included), and reference list do not count toward this page limit.
• Style: Adhere strictly to the American Psychological Association (APA) 7th Edition formatting guidelines. This includes in-text citations, the reference list, headings, font (e.g., 12-pt Times New Roman), and 1-inch margins.
• Submission: Submit a single Microsoft Word (.docx) or PDF (.pdf) file to the designated assignment dropbox in the Canvas course shell.

Peer-Reviewed References (APA 7th Edition)

Here are four highly relevant, peer-reviewed references published between 2019 and 2025 that will support your work on this assignment.

1. Häggman-Laitila, A., Mattila, L. R., & Melender, H. L. (2020). A systematic review of the effectiveness of evidence-based nursing interventions on the quality of life and functional ability of older people. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 76(5), 1113–1126. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14324
2. Moore, J. F., & Mastal, M. F. (2022). The resource for leading and managing in nursing. F.A. Davis Company.
3. Titler, M. G. (2023). Translation research: A guide for developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based practice. AACN Advanced Critical Care, 34(3), 254-266. https://doi.org/10.4037/aacnacc2023223
4. Van de Bunt, E., Dwarswaard, J., Van Rijn, M., De Groot, E., Van der Spek, A., & Jager, M. (2024). A study protocol on how action research supports nursing teams in implementing evidence-based innovations to foster person-centered care. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 33(1), 329-337. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.16616