General Formatting Throughout Paper

There’s a 1-inch margin on all four sides of each page of the paper

There is a .5-inch margin on the header

The font is the correct size (12 pt) and style (Times New Roman)

Double-spaced throughout

Words not hyphenated (broken) at end of a line

Numbers are expressed correctly (spelled out if at beginning of sentences!)

Page header and number are typed at the top of each page

APA Technical Writing Style

Spelling is correct. Spell-check used

Personal pronouns (I, me, us, we) are not used

No slangs

Sentences are complete. Each sentence can stands alone and still make sense

Is concise and avoids the use of excessive jargon/verbiage.

All sentences in each paragraph pertain to the same subject.

APA style in-text citations and references where appropriate

Title Page See APA 7th ed.

• Page header is first two or three words of the title

• Running head on first page of paper

• Page number begin on the first page until the last page

• Paper title is centered, bold

• Authors are included and centered on the page

• Department, College Name

• Instructor Name

• Date of submission

I. Introduction

• An introduction/background information on the chosen objective (and/or the topic).

• Assessment – Define the issue. Why is this a clinical problem? What are the risk factors? Statistics? Current prevalence rate in the US?

• Why or how the topic/objective interests you?

• Diagnosis – What are the consequences if issue is not acknowledged? How will consequences affect the identified clinical? PICO

II. Literature Review

• Research on the current policy/interventions/knowledge on how to achieve the objective

• Personal reflection: what do you think about the current policy/interventions?

• Any other interventions you believe pertinent?

• Any policy you believe should be changed or removed?

111. Methodology

• Design — Select a change theorist and theory to guide your change project. –“Lewin’s Theory”..

• Planning – What is the role of the RN regarding the issue? How can RNs help the participants regarding the issue?

• Target population. Sample size

• What tool(s) were used to assess the problem? Develop a 15-point questionnaire to help assess the problem.

• Implementation – What are your nursing interventions? – Teachings? /Brochure, New policies etc. Develop a tool (teaching/brochure/new policies etc) about the topic.

• Barriers and enablers. Did you identify any barriers to the change? What were they?Did you use any enablers (develop a checklist) to help you to stay on track with your project? Elaborate on how the change intervention was implemented.

• Evaluation – How will you evaluate the effectiveness of your interventions. Develop 5-question checklist to evaluate effectiveness of your interventions. .

• Analysis –of the data that were initially collected.

Explain the result of each of the questions on the questionnaire

IV. Ethic – Who approved project activity?(Instructor & clinical preceptor). Why ethical consideration?–should be no more than 2 lines

V. Results

• How many needs were identified? What were they? Was there a main problem?

• What were the demeanor/reaction of the clinical preceptor /and/or participants about the need(s) and the change? Was a clear need for change identified?

• What did the literature say about the effect of the problem on the participants?

VI. Discussion

• Finding(s) –What did you find after analyzing the data? Explain

• Limitations to the study- ex. Sample size, studies, age, race, gender, etc.

• Any new ideas about how would conduct a similar future study?

• Nursing Implications Example: the nurse administered Lasix. The nursing implication is that the patient will need to urinate more often, the nurse will need to monitor the patient often: a) to empty the Foley, b) to prevent fall/injury as the patient hurry to the bathroom, monitor the lab for possible electrolyte imbalance, provide adequate hydration or monitor for possible urinary infection

Conclusion

• Did the project findings and results match the PICOT statement? Was an evidence-based approach used. List them. Etc.

VII. References.

• Minimum 5 evidenced based references. Resources cannot be older than 5yrs.

VIII. Appendix:

• Tables, Checklist, Blank questionnaire, Teaching pamphlet, policy, short video, etc.

IX. APA Style See APA 7th ed.

• In-text citations and references where appropriate.

Additionally:

• Paper should be between 1500– 2000 words. Does not include references or Appendix items

• Poor grammar, spelling or punctuation